Zac Garton selected in Queensland under-19 origin team

A rising Sunshine Coast rugby league talent has made massive inroads into his professional dream after being selected in the Queensland U19 Origin team despite being a year younger.

Rising Sunshine Coast rugby league talent Zac Garton. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Sunshine Coast rising rugby league talent Zac Garton has edged another step closer to his NRL dream after earning selection in the Queensland under-19 origin team.

The promising back row forward began playing the sport he loves when he was just five-years-old for the Redcliffe Dolphins before moving to the Gympie Devils and later the Noosa Pirates and Kawana Dolphins when relocating to the Sunshine Coast.

In 2022 Garton was captain of the Sunshine Coast Falcons Cyril Connell Challenge side before signing a contract with the Dolphins and representing their Mal Meninga Cup team in 2023 and 2024.

The now 17-year-old Caloundra State High School Student will join a host of future NRL stars when he runs out on Leichhardt Oval on Thursday, June 20.

“I’m still pretty shocked,” Garton said.

Zac Garton runs out for the Redcliffe Dolphins.

“I set this as a goal at the start of the year knowing it would be a massive challenge but a massive opportunity for myself so I’m really happy and proud.”

The QLD side would be coached by former NRL and rugby union player Ben Te’o as well as assistants Darius Boyd, Jesse Maclean, Nathan Small and Matt Gillett.

Garton, who will undergo a NRL pre-season camp with the Dolphins at the end of the season, said he was excited for the coming days.

“It’s really cool to be joined alongside my Dolphins teammates and other guys you come up against each season,” he said.

“I played Queensland schoolboys last year and that was probably the hardest footy I’ve played just because of how fast and physical it was.

“I know this is going to be another step above so I’m ready to get stuck in and match it with the bigger boys.”

Zac Garton playing for Caloundra SHS in the Langer Trophy. Picture: Nick Tucker.

Zac Garton playing for Caloundra SHS in the Langer Trophy. Picture: Kylie McLellan

Caloundra SHS head coach Toby Poole said he was excited to see what Garton could do.

“Zac has matured an incredible amount as a young man the past 12 to 18 months in particular,” he said.

“His off-field training effort, attention to detail, desire to assist others has really developed a lot and you can see he takes his role within a team quite seriously.

“He’s extremely talented and is very coachable so it’s very pleasing to see his growth in the past two years.

“This selection is not something that’s fallen to him, he’s worked incredibly hard to get where he is so it’s a massive credit to him.”

The Queensland squad will assemble on the Gold Coast on Friday for a week-long camp.

The match will kick off at 7.45 on June 20 and is available to watch on Channel 9, Foxtel and Kayo.

Originally published as Zac Garton selected in Queensland under-19 origin team