Shaquai Mitchell's 'biggest demon' to conquer before inspiring All Stars selection:
https://www.2gb.com/shaquai-mitchells-biggest-demon-to-conquer-before-inspiring-all-stars-selection/
Great interview that, well worth the listen! What a man, what a story. Hope he goes well tonight and I can't wait to watch him.
Hey now, you’re an All Star: Tears of joy for Latrell’s brother
By Christian Nicolussi
Shaquai Mitchell thought his famous brother Latrell was joking when he called him on Sunday evening to let him know he was a shock call-up for the Indigenous All Stars.
“Latrell rang me around 6pm and said, ‘Hey bruz, I hear you’re keen to play?’,” Shauqai said.
“I said, ‘Play what?’, and he said, ‘I think you’re about to play in the All Stars’. I was absolutely shocked. A little tear came to my eye. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get this call. I still feel like it’s a dream.”
The 20,000 fans who turn up to CommBank Stadium on Saturday night for the Indigenous and Maori All Stars clash will now get to watch a Mitchell after all.
While Latrell was never going to feature because of the six-match ban for his high shot on Joey Manu late last season, Shaquai, who is older than Latrell by 14 months and plays in the front row, answered an SOS from coach Laurie Daley.
Daley predicted over the weekend that he would be forced to scour the NSW Cup if his forward stocks were further depleted by COVID-19 or injury.
And once Jack Bird pulled out of the squad for personal reasons, Daley phoned Latrell, then South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou, to tell him Shaquai was needed, despite having no NRL experience.
Daley told the Herald Shaquai had popped up on his radar some weeks back after Latrell had reached out to him via text to tell him what an excellent pre-season he had had at Souths, and how he would not disappoint on the big Indigenous stage.
Shaquai, who stripped off 25kg this summer and weighs about 119kg, not only wants to make his teammates, family and Indigenous culture proud this weekend, he also wants to follow in Latrell’s footsteps and play in the NRL.
“That’s the dream - that’s always been the dream,” Shaquai told the Herald. “Latrell will tell you the same thing, but rugby league was the only thing that kept us out of trouble in Taree. A lot of our family members have got into a lot of trouble, especially the boys in our age group, but football was the one thing that saved us.
“Rugby league is massive in Taree. Latrell and I always said to each other that football was our life. I spent some time out of the game, but I’ve come back not only a better player but a better person.”
Shaquai won an SG Ball title with the Sydney Roosters and Latrell, but later took time out from the game as he struggled with injuries and depression and ballooned to 167kg.
Those supporters who make the trek to Parramatta on Saturday will not see Shaquai emulating any of Latrell’s barnstorming 80m runs, rifle-like cutout passes or even the “kangaroo ears” try celebration.
“He can keep that one. I’ll have to come up with my own if by some miracle I score a try,” Shaquai said.
“Yes we’re brothers, only a year separates us, and we both have the same dream, but we’re on two different paths.
“Latrell is out there, adventurous, and he’s more of a people’s person, while I’m quiet and like to keep to myself.”
But Shaquai was not a complete stranger to his new teammates when he entered Indigenous camp at Sydney Olympic Park late Monday, with his wife having attended the same school as Josh Kerr, Nicho Hynes being an old schoolmate of his on the Central Coast and Josh Addo-Carr having played in the same Harold Matthews side at Souths.
