Braydon Trindall doesn't give much away, so when he says he shed a few tears when he found out he was going to play for the Indigenous All Stars, it's a big deal.
Not as big a deal as fulfilling the Cronulla halfback a lifelong dream and representing the Gamilaroi nation in the annual fixture, of course, but it's not nothing either.
"I got on the phone straight away to tell my family. I had a few tears, but I held most of them back," Trindall said.
"It's really special to me, I watched and went to this game so many times when I was a kid, getting to play in it is a dream that's finally coming true. I can't wait to get out there and do my culture and my family proud.
"Shaq Mitchell said yesterday the game is just the icing on the cake for him, and it's been like that for me as well. The week building up to it, the things you learn, being around boys with the same culture as you, it's so special."
While the Indigenous and Māori sides will be playing hard and playing to win, the result of the match is secondary to the cultural connection and celebration that happens during the week. But be warned, Trindall's teams usually end up on the right side of things.
The unassuming Trindall flew under the hype radar during his time in the lower grades despite plenty of team success. He was man of the match in the grand final when Cronulla won the Jersey Flegg title in 2018 and played a huge role in Newtown's NSW Cup and State Championship victory the following year.
Trindall only has 24 first grade games to his name but he might end up being the Sharks long-term halves partner for Nicho Hynes. Veteran five-eighth Matt Moylan has the experience edge, but Trindall has plenty of game – he's adept at bringing others into the game, engages the line well and his sharp dummy is classy enough to fool many an unsuspecting defender.
His kicking game is another strength and a crucial one, given Hynes is more noted as an attacking kicker than a territory kicker.
Plus he's got more runs on the board than you might think. The Sharks missed out on the finals last year but Trindall was quietly the clubs best and most consistent performer in the halves, despite only earning a starting gig from round 16 onwards through the year.
He led the Sharks' halves for try assists, line engagements and line break assists and never gave up the starting job even though Moylan returned from injury late in the year.
The battle between Trindall and Moylan still has plenty of time to play out, but Trindall gets his chance to show how he'll match up with the Sharks star recruit when they play alongside each other for the Indigenous All Stars.
Playing alongside fullback Will Kennedy, Cronulla's reigning player of the year and Trindall's cousin, will only enhance his chances. Kennedy and Trindall have been playing together since their Jets days and have built a fine understanding on the field.
"Will and I played together for the first time for the Jets and we've developed a bit of a combination. He's easy to play with and it didn't take much for us to build that combination," Trindall said.
"We've had a full pre-season together, Nicho, Will and myself. We're calling it on the go because we know how each other plays, we can rally everyone together in the shapes we want, it's not hard for us to connect.
"Nicho's professionalism really stands out, he's always doing extras and he's just a competitor. He's really upped the standard at Sharks."
