Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks sign Ipswich SHS stars
The Melbourne Storm has swooped on the eve of the Langer Cup grand final to sign a state high school young gun, just days after the Sharks secured the same school’s blockbusting centre.
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The Melbourne Storm have swooped on grand final eve to sign Ipswich SHS’s Australian schoolboy dummy half Gabriel Satrick.
The signing comes just days after the Cronulla Sharks also secured the school’s blockbusting centre Tre Fotu.
It means Ipswich SHS’s three Queensland schoolboy representatives, Satrick, Fotu and middle forward Josiah Pahulu (Gold Coast Titans) were all NRL signed ahead of tomorrow’s triple treat of grand final live streaming by thewww.couriermail.com.au, Gold Coast Bulletin and News Corp affiliates.
GRAND FINALS
12.30pm: Langer Reserves: Marsden SHS v PBC SHS
1.45pm: Walters Cup: Marsden SHS v Keebra Park SHS
3pm: Langer Trophy: Ipswich SHS v PBC SHS
WATCH THE SEMI-FINAL REPLAYS HERE
MEET 35 BIG BOPPERS OF THE LANGER, WALTERS CUP SEASON
MEET THE 15 UNSUNG HEROES AHEAD OF THE THREE GRAND FINALS
Satrick was flown to Melbourne on Monday where he penned a deal with the NRL powerhouse.
Satrick, a No. 9, lit up the Queensland Schoolboys selection trials to come from left field and make the Maroons side to play at the national carnival.
He entered the national carnival as one of only three Queensland representatives – the others were Fotu and Tory Bath – unsigned by NRL clubs.
But by the end of that tournament he had interest from multiple parties, interest which was heightened when he was named Man of the Match in the national schoolboys won by Queensland.
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His signing with the Storm caps a dizzying rise for Gatrick who only arrived at Ipswich SHS last year from his home town of Yarrabah in Far North Queensland.
Gatrick, who plays in a similar mould to Damien Cook or Apisai Koroisau, appeals because he is a natural footballer with fast feet and acceleration.
But he does not over play his hand, picking and choosing when to run and when to pass.
Gatrick’s pure football ability has also been used as a running middle forward by Ipswich SHS this season when coach Joshua Bretherton was looking to speed up a match.
This season Gatrick has tag-teamed at No. 9 with Tommy Luhrman who starts, a tactic which has worked a treat for Ipswich since round 1.
When Satrick returned from playing for Queensland, Ipswich SHS coach Joshua Bretherton faced the dilemma of changing what was working for the team by starting his Maroons No. 9 and benching Luhrman.
But Satrick and Luhrman asked the coach to keep their combination going, with Satrick wanting to remain an interchange player despite making the Australian schoolboys side.
That request from Gatrick provides an insight into his desire to put the team first and himself second.
Fotu joins the Sharks who ironically have another Ipswich SHS Langer Trophy star from the last in their ranks – winger Ronaldo Mulitalo.
Fotu is a powder keg centre, thickly built and a brute running the ball or in defence.
While his selection in the Queensland side was also a minor surprise, Meninga Cup followers would have gained an insight into his ability when he helped Souths Logan win the under 18 competition in May.
Fotu was one of the top players on the field on grand final day, not for his running, but for his sledge hammer defence which closed down the Townsville Blackhawks dangerous edge.
Ipswich SHS skipper Pahulu is the school’s other Queensland and Australian schoolboy has been a long-term investment by the Gold Coast Titans.
Pahulu, who was cleared to play with “no case to answer’’ in Wednesday’s grand final after being sent off in the semi-final, is a dynamic, mobile middle forward both carrying the ball and in defence.
LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE, Wednesday
12.30pm: Langer Reserves: Marsden SHS v PBC SHS
1.45pm: Walters Cup: Marsden SHS v Keebra Park SHS
3pm: Langer Trophy: Ipswich SHS v PBC SHS
FOOTNOTE: The www.couriermail will cover Tuesday’s Brisbane Broncos Old Boys Trophy (Year 7, 2pm) grand final between Wavell SHS and Keebra Park SHS, and the Steve Renouf Shield (Year 8, 3.15pm) between Ipswich SHS and Keebra Park SHS.
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