The 27-year-old told Souths officials his foot was sore at half-time, but did not receive a painkiller and was able to finish the game, during which he scored a try and kicked two goals.
Mitchell had a second set of scans on Saturday afternoon to determine the severity of the Lisfranc injury, a similar ailment to that which has kept Ponga out for the last 11 weeks.
Latrell Mitchell bags a try for the Blues in game two.Credit: Getty Images
Best is expected to get the nod at left centre, leaving Canterbury’s Stephen Crichton on the right side for the Blues.
The Warriors’ Barnett has been a shadow player for the first two games of the series, but was told to remain in Sydney after his side’s golden point heartbreak against the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Ponga, meanwhile, is set for a stunning comeback to Queensland colours after just one NRL game in more than two months as Queensland coach Billy Slater also felt injury pain on the final weekend before selections.
The Knights star is eyeing a bench spot after starring against the Raiders on Sunday, but the news was tempered with Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi out with a hamstring problem.
Bradman Best shone in his one Origin appearance last year.Credit: Getty
Taulagi, who has played both matches of this year’s series, suffered the problem in North Queensland’s golden point defeat to Manly on Saturday night.
With Xavier Coates already sidelined with his own hamstring injury, Slater was looking for two new wingers with Selwyn Cobbo likely to be on one wing and Valentine Holmes shifting to the other.
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Veteran Dane Gagai is in pole position to win a spot in the centres – possibly opposing Best – but there’s unlikely to be a spot for Titans forward David Fifita despite calls for him to be included on the bench for Origin III.
Asked about his potential recall to the Maroons side on Sunday, Ponga told Nine: “I would be extremely proud and privileged.”
“They’ve done a lot of hard work through the first two games and even last year, and if I get the chance to go again, I just want to do my job,” he said. “I would be very proud, but I’m not expecting it at all.”
The Queensland team will be announced on Monday.
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