Shaquai Mitchell living a dream as his chase for a top-30 contract nears reality

Shaq Mitchell opens up about his push to secure a top-30 spot, his Indigenous All Stars performance and how his little brother Latrell toughened up in the pre-season.

Shaquai Mitchell can push for a top 30 spot with the Rabbitohs after declaring “I don’t want to be remembered as someone taking the limelight off my little brother”.

Strong trial performances could catapult Mitchell into a full-time deal after he impressed for the Indigenous All Stars last Saturday.

Mitchell has already had his $1000 per week train and trial deal with the Rabbitohs extended until the end of the pre-season after making his mark in the off-season. The 25-year-old - older brother of Rabbitohs star Latrell - has now set his sights on cracking it into the top grade.

“I’ve learnt through my five years of struggling with a lot of stuff, just to take it day by day,” Mitchell said. “I’ve spoken to (coach) Jason Demetriou and he’s an absolute champion and I can’t thank him enough for the opportunity that he’s given me at South Sydney, the whole board have given me the chance to fulfil (my dream) and I’m 26 next month.

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Shaquai Mitchell acquitted himself well playing for the Indigenous All Stars. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“When I first spoke to JD (Demetriou) about this train and trial I told him I was head down and bum up, and that’s how I want to be. I don’t want to be remembered as someone taking the limelight off my little brother, he’s a superstar of the game.”

Mitchell is in South Sydney’s trial squad to play the Cowboys on Saturday night. The Rabbitohs have two roster spots available in their top 30 and chief executive Blake Solly said Mitchell is pushing to claim one of the final positions.

“If he continues to do what he is doing, on and off the field he will give himself every opportunity to secure a top 30 spot,” Solly said. “There’s a fair bit of competition for those last spots but given how Shaq has applied himself he is giving himself every chance of getting one.

“He has impressed everyone at the club. He has impressed since he arrived in 2020. I was fortunate enough to be in the meeting when he first spoke with Wayne Bennett and Mark Ellison about the opportunity to play in our NSW Cup squad in 2020. He was so grateful.

“He has continued to impress the more he has shown us in that time.”

Mitchell was drafted late into the Indigenous squad but said the chance to play on the big stage was a dream come true. He made eight hit-ups for 56-metres.

Latrell’s suspension meant the pair were unable to play together but Mitchell took time to reflect on how far he had come in recent seasons.

“I felt at home,” Mitchell said. “I felt like I belonged. I was on a construction site last year watching.

“I thought I held my own in a lot of aspects of the game. Now the confidence is starting to peak now to get to the NRL. I had a lot of courage just to stand out there. I haven’t got the body like some of these boys, I just came back from losing 55 kgs.”

Meanwhile, Mitchell said his brother has “grown” as a person as he comes to terms with missing the start of the season because of a suspension.

“I’ve spoken to him a few times and he’s said he’s OK with it,” Mitchell said. “He went away from everything and went back home to his farm, and he’s a better man for it to be honest with you. He’s stronger.”