“That moment is something that will stick with me forever”.
Mitch Barnett shared an emotional celebration with his Warriors teammates after he earnt a call-up into Michael Maguire’s NSW squad for the 2024 Origin series opener.
But the special scenes marked not just his first representative recognition, it showed how taking a leap to “grow up” has taken the enforcer to a new level on and off the field.
One of the lowest moments of Barnett’s career came after the Knights’ clash with the reigning premiers Penrith in Round 3 in Bathurst.
The 30-year-old earnt himself a six-week suspension for an ugly swinging arm tackle on Panthers forward Chris Smith in 2022 dubbed a “moment of madness”.
During that period sidelined he was granted a release from his contract at the Knights, signing on to join the Warriors ahead of the 2023 season.
Barnett was offered a chance to extend his stay in the Hunter, but it was time for the steely forward to leave the Knights after arriving as a teenager, inbetween a stint at the Raiders.
His move to the Warriors came at a time when many players were abandoning ship post-Covid, unwilling to leave Australia for the club’s Auckland base in 2023.
New Zealand lost over 10 players, including Reece Walsh, Eliesa Katoa, Jesse Arthars, Euan Aitken and Matt Lodge, who are all quality NRL players.
But Barnett was willing to make the move.
Fast forward two years and he’s absolutely certain that he made the right call.
“It’s been massive for me, I took a long time to grow up. I needed to move out of Newcastle to grow up,” Barnett told foxsports.com.au.
“It sounds weird saying ‘grow up’ but that’s how I see it. I had old habits I just couldn’t get away from and now I’ve moved out and got out of my comfort zone I wish I did it sooner.
“I’m reaping the rewards of maturing and just working hard.”
Following his Origin call-up, Andrew Webster, the man Barnett and his Warriors teammates speak so highly of, got to break the news after New Zealand’s Round 12 win.
