Karmichael Hunt: 'Lewis is a real talent with great work ethic and ability'

Queensland Under 17 City second rower Lewis Symonds is determined to put in a good performance against Country, on the back of a serious ankle injury.

The 16-year-old, who was part of the 2022 Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup premiership-winning squad, said he was shocked to get the call-up after being out for eight weeks.

"I'm excited to be here," Lewis, who recently moved to Marsden State High, said.

"It's pretty unexpected to get selected... I tore the ligament in my ankle playing rugby league for school, for Coombabah against Marsden. Someone landed on it awkwardly and it just folded in, six-and-a-half minutes in."

Good now, and ready to rip in, Lewis said he was soaking up the experience.

"It's cool with David Stagg and the former State of Origin greats... I'm learning so much already," Lewis said.

The young gun's selection in the City side did not come as a surprise to his Souths Logan Magpies Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup coach and former Queensland Maroons great Karmichael Hunt.

"Lewis is a real talent with great work ethic and ability," Hunt said.

"He was an important part of our Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup-winning squad, playing across the back row and centre at times when needed.

"I really enjoyed coaching Lewis and look forward to seeing his progress over the coming years."

Lewis, whose first played rugby league at Helensvale Hornets before moving to Runaway Bay and now the Magpies, said he loved everything about the game.

"It's always been in my life... my brother used to play it when he was younger so it got me into it. I was always having a ball, I liked kicking it, passing," Lewis said.

"I have always have enjoyed being on the rugby league field, scoring tries."

Lewis said he looked up to Brisbane Broncos and Maroons star Kurt Capewell.

"I just like the way he plays and how he's always giving extra effort when no one notices," Lewis said.

"I want to make NRL, I want to play for Brisbane Broncos because that's my team. I want to play for Australia as well."

But for now, Lewis, who attributes most of his success so far to his dad Matt Symonds, and school coaches Sam Meskell, Ben Woolf and Rod Pryor, and Magpies coach Hunt, wants to bring his A game against Country.