Why Indigenous All Stars halfback Braydon Trindall could be the answer to Cronulla's halves conundrum

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."

Indigenous women's utility Sarah Field travelled more than 1,400km for an opportunity to play for the rugby league team she grew up admiring. As a result, she earned an All Stars recall.

While the Indigenous and Maori 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