Gabriel Satrick: 'Absolutely electric out of dummy half'

Queensland Under 19 weapon Gabriel Satrick's rugby league journey started in Yarrabah near Cairns and he's now at Melbourne Storm, learning from Queensland Maroons hooker Harry Grant.

The 18-year-old finished his schooling at Ipswich State High School and played for Ipswich Jets' Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup side last year prior to heading to Melbourne.

Queensland Under 19 assistant coach Nathan Cross said Satrick earned his spot in this year's side after impressing with his blinding speed and solid defence.

Satrick is stoked to have been picked in the team to play New South Wales on July 13, describing it as a "huge privilege". 

"It all started for me at my hometown Yarrabah... I started there when I was young, just played a little backyard footy and then club football with Yarrabah Seahawks," Satrick said.

"Everyone in my community liked playing and is a big fan of rugby league, and when my family play, I just love it. Footy is everything up there. I love it."

Satrick, the youngest of seven children, said State of Origin in his household as a child was everyone - all Queensland supporters - being loud, watching the game. He said he looked up to "Johnathan Thurston... easy... he was my favourite player". 

Satrick, a hooker, said it was an honour to be picked to wear maroon and he could not wait to rip in for the side.

"It's a big privilege," Satrick said, adding he always played for his family, to make them proud.

"I remember watching the boys last year and I was just like, 'I wish I could make that'. It's a big privilege. Not a lot of boys get this opportunity.

"My goal is to just make an impact like the game and like, you know, get quick play the balls.

"Harry Grant has been teaching me a lot of stuff. Just watching him, he's really good. Just says to do the little stuff right, practice passing and to perfect the craft."

Satrick said in the future he would love to be in Grant's position.

"It would be a big privilege... everyone in my community would be so happy," Satrick said.

Cross said Satrick was "absolutely electric out of dummy half".

"He's got blinding speed," Cross said, adding "he can play big minutes and for his size he's a really good defender". 

Cross said the Queensland Under 19 side was "pretty well-balanced... a hardworking squad". 

"It's not a squad full of absolute superstars... it's a squad full of players who have earned the right to be picked as opposed to being picked on reputation," Cross said.

"I've watched a lot of these games each and every week, to make sure that we're rewarding the guys that deserve to be picked.

"It's a really hard working team that I'm confident will come together as a unit and play for each other."