Naden called into Indigenous All Stars squad

Bulldog Brent Naden and Latrell Mitchell's older brother Shaquai have been drafted into the Indigenous All Stars squad ahead of Saturday's clash with the Māori All Stars in Sydney.

Naden, who has moved to Belmore in 2022 after three seasons and 37 games with the Panthers, gets his first opportunity to represent his Indigenous heritage while Mitchell has joined the Rabbitohs on a train and trial deal this season.

Mitchell, 25, comes into the Indigenous squad after Dragon Jack Bird withdrew due to injury on Sunday. 

"I'm really looking forward to seeing him play because I spoke to his coach Jason Demetriou and he said for a big man he has tremendous skill," Daley told Sky Sports Radio on Monday.

"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 trained hard in the off-season and he is down under 120 kilos so it's exciting because this [All Stars] game, I reckon we have produced three or four guys that have gone on and had NRL careers when they haven't been under contract with clubs.

"They have been on train and trial contracts, and all of a sudden they play in this game, they play well and get a bit of confidence and then they go back to their clubs, Josh Kerr and [Jamayne] Taunoa-Brown, and they establish themselves as part of the team, they feel confident and I think with Shaq Mitchell this could be the same thing."

Naden played in the Panthers' hard fought semi-final win over the Eels in last year's finals series and was then 18th man for the grand final against the Rabbitohs.

He will be part of a new-look Bulldogs side in 2022 which also features fellow former Panther Matt Burton and Indigenous superstar Josh Addo-Carr.  

Updated squad lists for all four All Stars sides will be confirmed on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Saturday's double-header at CommBank Stadium.

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