100kg prop Giordan Patea is on the right path for an NRL career

MACARTHUR Chronicle Junior Sports Star nominee Giordan Patea is a prop to watch.

MACARTHUR Chronicle Junior Sports Star nominee Giordan Patea is a prop to watch.

The 100kg 15-year-old was selected in the Australian Rugby League under-15s merit team earlier this year after a stellar performance in the NSW Combined High School team's 26-12 loss to Queensland in the final of the Australian Secondary Schools championships.

The Macquarie Fields resident said he was honoured with selection.

"To make it into the Australian squad is a dream come true and a blessing," Patea said. He will go into camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in January.

Patea said he was looking forward to playing with national teammates Christian Poutoa, of Mt Carmel Catholic High School, and Campbelltown resident George Francis.

The front-rower had a stellar season with the Canterbury Bulldogs Harold Matthews Cup team, which made the finals series.

But Patea's immediate focus is lining up for Mounties under-15s division one side in this weekend's Parra­matta District Junior Rugby League grand final.

The Westfields Sports High School student said his dad was his inspiration.

"Dad is my hero; he trains me and inspires me to do well," he said. "We work on a lot of contact and fitness exercises, because if you want to play well you have to train hard."

Inspiration for Patea also comes from his cousin, Dominique Peyroux, who plays in the centres for the New Zealand Warriors.

"Dominique plays in the NRL for the Warriors and he has given me good advice on how to make it," Patea said.

"He said I need to work harder and train harder than every other player, as well as listening to what my coaches have to say.

"I want to play in the NRL one day."

Rebel is a sponsor of the Junior Sports Star.