NRL All Stars: Shaquai Mitchell on cusp of securing South Sydney contract
The Shaquai Mitchell story is far from over - with the comeback story about to take another enormous step after a barnstorming All Stars performance.
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On a night more suited for ducks, we didn’t get to see the offload or the type of skill once rated better than his younger brother Latrell.
But the dream is far from over for the Bunnies big show, Shaquai Mitchell.
In fact, another crucial chapter is about to be written in every rugby league fan’s favourite feel-good story.
No less than 24-hours after the biggest game of his life in the jersey of the NRL Indigenous All Stars, the 25-year-old - who already has an almighty story to tell - will board a flight to Cairns for a career-defining NRL trial match with South Sydney.
If ‘Shaq’ proves his worth in the preseason hit-out against the Cowboys next Saturday night, his current $1,000-a-week train-and-trial contract with the Rabbitohs could quickly develop into something more concrete.
An NRL contract that became his obsession and driving force to get out the NSW Cup, get fit and drop 25kg, from his once 167kg frame.
The Rabbitohs have strategically avoided spending the money they had set aside for Anthony Milford.
In wet and slippery conditions, tough for the big boys at any time, let alone footy in February, Mitchell used his limited time on the field to carry the footy with purpose as a middle-forward.
His eight hit-ups amounted to 56-metres.
By comparison, his much more experienced teammate Ryan James, picked-up 59-metres for the match, while Josh Kerr and Jamayne Taunoa Brown ran for 31-metres and 35-metres respectively.
But more importantly, Shaq finished without error.
Shaq was once in the same Roosters SG Ball premiership-winning team in 2014 as his brother Mitchell.
However, Shaq was eventually cut from the Sydney Roosters system.
Battling anxiety and depression, it appeared his shot at making an NRL squad was over.
He played NSW Cup last year and with a decision to have one more crack at making first grade he shed 25 kilos to earn the train and trial contract with the Rabbitohs.
Mitchell, who joined the Indigenous week-long training camp, described his brother’s journey as inspirational.
“He was a great player coming through the system and opportunities arose when he was playing reps and then a thing or two didn’t happen, like they do,’’ Mitchell told Fox Sports last night.
“Things fall in your path and you have obstacles for him to overcome.
“For him to what he had to do and keep his footy dream is very inspirational.
“Not only for myself and my family, but for himself too to give himself a bit of hope and just to know that he can play this game.”
Shaq’s story so far is a beauty.
It’s not over yet.
‘I LOST 55KG’: ALL STAR MITCHELL OPENS UP ON TRANSFORMATION
By Dean Ritchie
Shaquai Mitchell has shed a remarkable 55kg and is now ready to escape the vast shadow cast by his superstar younger brother.
It’s all been made possible through an online fitness program drafted by an Australian fitness guru living in Canada.
The rising South Sydney front-rower and older brother of Latrell Mitchell has been selected in the Indigenous All Stars side for Saturday night’s big match against the Maori All Stars at Parramatta.
Shaquai, 25, said he weighed a staggering 175kg in 2018 when playing for Wyong Roos on the Central Coast. With the online help of Jase Stuart, a Vancouver-based Australian dietitian and personal trainer, Shaquai now weighs 119kg.
Feeling fit and mobile, Shaq is ready to show fans that Latrell isn’t the only Mitchell family member to excel. And he hopes All Stars selection will help catapult him into South Sydney’s NRL side this year.
“I want to show people that I’m a footballer just as much as my little brother,” Shaquai said.
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“If you meet me and Latrell personally, we’re two completely different people and players. You will hopefully get to see that on Saturday night.
“Even though we’re brothers – and there’s only a year separating us – we are different. I have always wanted to play this game but (selection) wasn’t in my wildest dreams.
“It’s a big opportunity that has come up. I’m a bit overwhelmed and a bit nervous but I believe I’m ready. I’m ready to have a good crack at it, just through all the hard work, through all the training.
“It’s a bit scary but a good way to start off the year.”
The player hoping to shine on Saturday night is a hell of a lot lighter than the front-rower from four years ago.
“I’m weighing in at about 119kg,” Mitchell said.
“At my heaviest, I was 170kg to 175kg. That was in my Wyong years – 2017, 2018. I have lost close to 55kg. It was mainly training and diet. I got on to a program and trained four times a week in the gym. I was counting calories. I was on a calorie deficiency of 1800 calories a day.”
Mitchell said Stuart’s Better Body Fitness had helped changed his life.
“I have an online personal trainer, Jase Stuart. He’s an Aussie based in Canada,” Mitchell said. “He helps people around the world that have a similar situation as myself.
“I saw their transformations so I decided to jump on myself and I have never looked back. We connected on Instagram and Facebook.
“He has helped me a lot to change my lifestyle. He wants me to follow guidelines, don’t treat them as rules.
“It was a training program to get me going and I went from there. Jase is a big footy fan himself. He told me if I miss a day then I have to make up for it. He was pretty good, he was lenient, and that made me feel comfortable. He didn’t ever blow up at me.
“I finished the program when I went into full-time training and our head of performance at Souths (Travis Touma) has been helping me a lot as well. It’s been awesome.”
Due to Latrell’s NRL suspension, Mitchell will be denied the chance to play alongside his brother.
Mitchell started at Souths in 2020 but has played little footy because the NSW Cup competitions were essentially cancelled over the past two years because of Covid.
He has just completed his first full offseason and Souths officials described his new body shape as “unbelievable”.
Indigenous All Stars coach Laurie Daley is pumped to watch Mitchell step out in such a big game.
“Shaq is a front-rower who has great skills for a big man,” Daley said.
“He had a little issue with his weight but has lost a few kilos while training with the Rabbitohs in the off-season.
“I spoke to Jason (Demetriou, Souths coach) and he said Shaq wouldn’t let us down. Jason has been really impressed with how Shaq has been able to apply himself pre-season.
“This game over the last few years has produced guys who haven’t played a lot of first grade, guys like Josh Kerr and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown. Some have never played first grade but have been given an opportunity and they have kicked on.”
Meanwhile the Maori All Stars have drafted Parramatta Eels prop Wiremu Greig into the squad. Greig, who has played just two matches, has been called into the side to replace Newcastle’s Pasami Saulo.
Next Gen talent added to All Stars mix
Boom Broncos flyer Selwyn Cobbo will make his Indigenous All Stars debut as the NRL’s next generation of talent was picked to replace the game’s biggest stars.
Cobbo will be one of five Brisbane players featuring in Friday week’s clash against the Maori All Stars at Commbank Stadium in Sydney.
The Cherbourg sensation will wear Indigenous colours for the first time alongside Broncos teammates Albert Kelly, Kotoni Staggs and Ryan James while TC Robati has been picked for the Maori team.
Kelly will be making his All Stars debut for the Indigenous team along with Cowboys Origin speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes.
The Maori team will see former Roosters playmaker Jayden Nikorima, now with the Storm, make his comeback to the big stage after last featuring in the NRL in 2016.
Nikorima will play alongside brother Kodi in a Maori team headlined by James Fisher-Harris, Dylan Walker and Jordan Rapana.
Titans star David Fifita has committed to the Indigenous team alongside Bulldogs flyer Josh Addo-Carr and rising Sharks fullback Will Kennedy.
The Titans will boast four players in the Maori team in Kevin Proctor, Patrick Herbert, Erin Clark and Esan Marsters.
The game will be missing some big-name players with the likes of Latrell Mitchell (suspended), Cody Walker, Jack Wighton, Brandon Smith, Jahrome Hughes, Joey Manu and Kalyn Ponga not playing.
That has opened the door for the NRL’s rising stars like Cobbo to get a taste of the big stage and showcase what they’ve got.
“There’s definitely a fair bit of speed and excitement in this squad,” Indigenous coach Laurie Daley said.
“Importantly we have a strong and proud group who will grow from the experience that is All Stars. We have some newcomers to the contest as well which gives us such an opportunity alongside others who are All Stars veterans.
“Our players will be very keen to learn about themselves, their teammates – and to also educate others. That’s what makes this game so special.”
The NRL has persisted with the All Stars concept despite Covid protocols needing to be put in place to help protect the health and safety of players.
The protocols were hit with resistance by some players and clubs, but the NRL has managed to put together two squads for the fourth instalment of the Indigenous-Maori clash.
Maori coach David Kidwell said his team was proud to represent its heritage.
“I’m so thankful to have a group of players who are honoured to represent their culture,” he said.
“This is such an important week for the game and our players recognise this. They will all do what they can to represent themselves, their whanau and their iwi.”
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