Southport Tigers: Blake Scott, of John Sattler’s famous clan, carving out his own rugby league path

THERE was never any chance Southport hooker Blake Scott would be intimidated by the big names he now calls his teammates at the Tigers. He grew up around rugby league royalty.

THERE was never a chance Southport hooker Blake Scott would be intimidated by the big names he now calls his teammates at the Tigers.

At school he was the link that connected David Fifita’s forward pack with Tanah Boyd’s national title winning backline at Keebra Park in 2017.

He is the grandson of rugby league’s original hardman John Sattler, who played through a broken jaw to win the 1970 NSWRL final, and nephew to Scott, whose own grand final heroics in 2003 have been etched permanently into the sport’s folklore.

Captain John Sattler is chaired from the field with a broken jaw on 19/09/1970. Picture: Photo File

For 21-year-old Scott, looking rugby league’s biggest stars eye-to-eye has never worried him. He’s done it his entire life.

“I guess it’s just normal to me growing up with Scott in the NRL and Pop being such a legend,” the young rake said.

“It’s never really been pressure (to follow in their footsteps).

“It’s more something I’ve embraced, having that bloodline and looking up to them and aspiring to be as good as them.”

Scott’s father Dean, an eight-game five-eighth for the Gold Coast Seagulls in the mid-’90s, married into the Sattler clan when he wed John’s daughter Lisa.

Blake, and his elder brother Jordan, never stood a chance at skipping the rugby league gene.

“I think it’s his journey through rugby league since he was a toddler,” uncle Scott Sattler said.

OCTOBER 5, 2003: Video still of match winning tackle by Scott Sattler on Todd Byrne (ball) during Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters 2003 NRL Grand Final at Telstra Stadium, Homebush in Sydney, 05/10/03. Pic Channel Nine. Rugby League A/CT

“His dad played a lot of local rugby league on the Gold Coast so Blake is a little bit like myself and my sister, we grew up in dressing sheds our whole life.

“He and Jordan are used to being around people who’ve been involved in the game for a number of years.

“They’ve been around players who’ve been even bigger names than Tony Williams and Israel Folau. They wouldn’t get intimidated, it’s just their personalities.”

Blake, a final-year apprentice carpenter, has had no trouble finding his voice in directing some of his childhood heroes around on the pitch.

“The team we have at Southport this year is unreal,” he said.

“It’s crazy watching those boys on TV when you’re younger now they’re rocking up to training and you’re playing alongside them.

Blake Scott (R) celebrates Keebra Park’s GIO Schoolboy Cup win in Sydney in 2017.

“The good thing is they’ve come to Southport having been at the highest level and they’re asking me questions like where do I want them to be.

“They don’t think they’re above us and we don’t think we’re below them, we’re just all one team.”

Scott has flicked between Southport and Souths Logan in the Intrust Super Cup since debuting in the NRL feeder competition in 2019.

With Intrust Super Cup grand final day booked in for the weekend of October 9-10, and Souths Logan already at long odds to reach it, Scott will be a valuable piece for the Tigers as they hunt for the club’s first title since 2014.