Community hub
0 subscribers8 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to Luca Moretti.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Luca Moretti
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Luca Moretti (born 19 April 2000) is an Italian international rugby league player who plays as a second-row or prop forward for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League and NSW Cup.
Key Information
Background
[edit]Moretti is of Italian descent and attended school at Waverley College where he was a prominent rugby union player.[2] He played his junior rugby league with Clovelly Crocodiles.[3]
Playing career
[edit]Club career
[edit]In round 13 of the 2023 NRL season, Moretti made his first grade debut for Parramatta in their 24–16 victory over North Queensland.[4] On 29 August 2023 Moretti was voted Parramatta's NSW Cup player of the season at the Ken Thornett Medal presentation night.[5]
2024
[edit]Moretti played 12 games for Parramatta in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 15th on the table.[6]
2025
[edit]On 16 January the Parramatta outfit announced that Moretti had re-signed with the club until the end of the 2027 season. Moretti played 12 games for Parramatta in the 2025 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table.[7][8]
International career
[edit]In 2022 Moretti was named in the Italy squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[9] Moretti made his Italy debut in the opening round of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup against Scotland which Italy won 28-4.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ Rugby League Project
- ^ Zero Tackle profile
- ^ NRL - Rare dual-code history for Roosters schoolboy star
- ^ "Brown's stunner as Eels unearth hidden gem; star leads Cowboys transformation: Big hits". www.foxsports.com.au.
- ^ "Every award winner at the 2023 Ken Thornett Medal". www.parraeels.com.au.
- ^ "The Mole's end of season review: What went wrong at the Parramatta Eels?". www.nine.com.au.
- ^ "'I'll never forget to the day I die': Jason Ryles' hilariously honest admission after 'Mike Tyson moment'". www.foxsports.com.au.
- ^ "Luca Moretti extends with the Eels". Parramatta Eels. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021
- ^ "Relive Scotland's World Cup loss to Italy". www.bbc.co.uk.
External links
[edit] | This Italian rugby league football biography is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Luca Moretti
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and junior career
Family background and heritage
Luca Moretti was born on 20 April 2000 in Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.[3] Randwick, situated in Sydney's eastern suburbs, is where Moretti spent his formative years, immersing himself in the local sporting culture from an early age.[3] Moretti's family heritage traces back to Italian ancestry, establishing his cultural roots and providing the foundation for his eligibility to represent Italy internationally.[5] This Italian descent, passed down through his family, reflects the broader pattern of migrant influences in Australian rugby league communities.Education and schoolboy rugby
Moretti attended Waverley College, an independent Catholic school in Sydney's eastern suburbs, where he completed his secondary education in 2018.[6] At Waverley, he emerged as a standout rugby union player, featuring prominently for the school's First XV team as a back-rower in the No. 8 position.[6][7] In 2017, during his penultimate year, Moretti was selected for the Australian Schoolboys rugby union team, representing New South Wales Independent schools and earning three caps, including a match against the Fijian Schools team.[8][7][9] He built on this success in 2018, his final school year, by impressing state selectors during the New South Wales schoolboy rugby union championships in July.[6] That year, Moretti also represented the NSW Combined Independent Schools side in four matches at Kingscliff and secured another call-up to the Australian Schoolboys team, where he played against New Zealand schools and Tonga.[6][10] His schoolboy achievements in rugby union highlighted his versatility, paving the way for a transition to rugby league in his junior development.[6]Junior clubs and development
Moretti began his rugby league journey in Sydney's community competitions, playing his junior rugby with the Clovelly Crocodiles, a local club that has also nurtured talents like Roosters forward Victor Radley.[6] His performances in these grassroots environments highlighted his potential as a versatile forward, drawing early attention from professional scouts. As a promising local talent, Moretti signed a development contract with the Sydney Roosters, securing his pathway with the club until the end of 2020.[6] This agreement marked his formal entry into the Roosters' junior system, where he was positioned as one of the club's rare homegrown prospects amid a competitive talent pool. Moretti's transition from rugby union—where his schoolboy achievements at Waverley College had initially sparked interest—to league was facilitated through participation in key talent identification programs, including selection for the Australian Schoolboys rugby league team.[6] This dual-code recognition in 2018, achieved by playing eight schoolboy games across both codes in just 12 days, underscored his adaptability and accelerated his development within the 13-man game.Club career
Sydney Roosters juniors
Moretti joined the Sydney Roosters' youth development pathway in 2018 at the age of 17, securing a rare NRL development contract as one of the club's few local juniors, which extended through the end of 2020.[6] This agreement highlighted his potential within the club's system, where he transitioned from earlier junior football with the Clovelly Crocodiles.[6] In 2019, Moretti featured prominently in the Roosters' Under 20s side competing in the Jersey Flegg Cup, leading the team in offloads with 13 for the season and contributing to a squad that ranked second on the competition ladder while conceding the fewest points overall.[11] His performances underscored his ball-playing ability as a forward, helping drive the team's strong defensive record that year. Throughout his tenure in the Roosters' juniors, Moretti accumulated experience across pathway grades, including the SG Ball Cup in 2018 where he played multiple matches, and junior representative opportunities such as the Australian Schoolboys rugby league tour to England.[6][12] These games allowed him to build his profile as a versatile forward adept at prop and second-row roles, while developing robust defensive skills essential for higher-level competition.[6][13]Parramatta Eels debut and early NRL seasons
After progressing through the Sydney Roosters' junior system, where he featured in their under-20s and NRL Nines squads, Moretti transitioned to the Parramatta Eels ahead of the 2023 season, signing a contract that allowed him to compete in the New South Wales Rugby League's Cup competition (NSW Cup) as part of the club's reserve-grade pathway.[14][15] Standing at 185 cm tall and weighing 102 kg, Moretti primarily plays as a second-rower but can also operate as a prop forward, bringing a versatile and physical presence to the Eels' forward pack.[1][3] Moretti made his National Rugby League (NRL) first-grade debut for the Parramatta Eels in Round 13 of the 2023 season on 26 May, coming off the bench in a 24–16 home victory over the North Queensland Cowboys at CommBank Stadium.[1] His introduction to top-flight rugby marked a significant step from reserve-grade football, where he had been building form in the NSW Cup. Later that season, on 28 July, Moretti scored his maiden NRL try against the Melbourne Storm, spinning over in the 63rd minute during a 46–16 loss, providing a brief highlight in a challenging match.[16][17] In the NSW Cup during 2023, Moretti excelled for the Eels' reserves side, earning recognition for his consistent performances and work rate. On 29 August 2023, he was voted the Parramatta Eels' NSW Cup Player of the Season, receiving the Ken Thornett Medal at the club's presentation night, underscoring his development as a promising forward before and alongside his NRL breakthrough.[4][5]2024 and 2025 seasons
In the 2024 NRL season, Moretti featured in 11 games for the Parramatta Eels, contributing as a versatile forward while the team struggled to a 15th-place finish on the ladder. His performances included one try, showcasing his growing role in the forward pack amid a challenging campaign for the club.[2] On 16 January 2025, Moretti re-signed with the Eels on a contract extension through to the end of the 2027 season, affirming his commitment to the club and securing his position in the NRL squad.[4] During the 2025 NRL season, Moretti played 12 games for the Eels, who improved to finish 11th on the ladder. As of the end of the 2025 season, his career tally stood at 34 NRL appearances with 2 tries for 8 points, reflecting steady progression since his debut.[1] He was noted for his strong defensive contributions, including 218 tackles made, and adaptability across middle and edge positions.[18][13]International career
2022 Rugby League World Cup
Moretti was named in Italy's squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately held in late 2022.[3] His Italian heritage through his family background made him eligible to represent the Azzurri on the international stage.[13] Moretti made his senior international debut in the tournament's opening match for Italy, a 28–4 victory over Scotland on 16 October 2022 at Kingston Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.[3] Starting as a prop in the forward pack, he helped anchor Italy's defense in the Pool B encounter, contributing to a dominant performance that saw the Azzurri secure their first win of the tournament.[2] Throughout Italy's World Cup campaign, Moretti appeared in all three group stage matches, transitioning between prop, second row, and interchange roles as a versatile forward.[3] His efforts in the pack provided crucial go-forward momentum and tackling solidity, marking a significant entry into senior international rugby league despite Italy's subsequent losses to Fiji (4–60) and Australia (6–66).[2]International matches and statistics
Luca Moretti has represented Italy in a total of three international test matches, all occurring during the 2022 Rugby League World Cup.[2] These appearances marked his debut on the international stage, where he played primarily as a second-rower or prop forward.[19] In these matches, Moretti focused on defensive duties, contributing to Italy's forward pack in an emerging national side that relied on robust tackling and set completion to compete against stronger opponents.[20] He did not score any tries across his international career to date, underscoring his role as a workhorse in the engine room rather than an attacking threat.[2] The following table summarizes his international statistics:| Match | Opponent | Date | Position | Tries | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scotland | October 16, 2022 | Prop | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Fiji | October 22, 2022 | Bench (Prop/Second-row) | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Australia | October 29, 2022 | Second-row | 0 | 0 |