The older brother of South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell has been called into the Indigenous All Stars squad for their match against the Maori All Stars, despite never having played an NRL game.
Shaquai Mitchell was added to the Indigenous squad after Jack Bird was ruled out with injury.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing him play because I spoke to his coach last night, Jason Demetriou, and he said for a big man he has tremendous skill,” coach Laurie Daley said on Sky Sports Radio’s The Big Sports Breakfast.
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“I haven’t seen him play. I remember hearing and reading about him coming through the junior grades.
“He obviously had a little bit of an issue with his weight, but he has lost a few kilos, while training with the Rabbitohs over the off-season.
Daley said the fact that Mitchell had yet to play in the NRL wasn’t an issue.
“It is exciting because we have had three or four guys that have had NRL careers when they haven’t been under contract with clubs,” he explained.
“They have been on train and trial contracts and all of a sudden they play in this game and they play well and they get some confidence. Then they go back to their clubs. Josh Kerr and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown are two examples and all of a sudden they establish themselves.”
Last week it was confirmed that Mitchell had dropped 25kg in a bid to give his NRL career “another crack.”
The 25-year-old once weighed in at 167kg as he battled depression and anxiety issues.
He’s currently on a $1000 per week deal with the Rabbitohs, where he’s hoping to earn a spot alongside his superstar brother, Latrell.
“He still has a fair bit of work to do, he knows that, and this pre-season wasn’t about him trying to prove to us he will be ready to play in the NRL in round one. It was about him showing us he’s on the right path and potentially able to play in the NRL,” Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou told the SMH.
“He played in our NSW Cup side last year, he wanted to give his footy career another crack, he lost a lot of weight and we saw enough in him to give him a full pre-season to see what kind of shape he can get himself into.”
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