Vale – Laurie Moraschi

Member #586

Born on 22 December 1942, Passed Away 12 August 2018.

Former NSW fullback, Laurie Moraschi, passed away on Sunday 12 August, aged 75.

Born in Ingham in North Queensland, Laurie moved to Sydney with his family for a couple of years as a small boy, before a few years later the family relocated to Griffith. He began playing junior football with the Griffith Black and Whites. He was playing first grade in the group 20 competition as an 18 year old and at Griffith in 1964, represented Riverina against the touring Frenchmen. Riverina, including such names as Fred Jones (3 Tests) and Ron Crowe (5 Tests), won this match, 21-16.

A teenager star with the Black and Whites, Laurie won the NSW Country Player of the Year Award in 1965, the first year of that award. After representing Country Firsts against City Firsts at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 22 May 1965, Laurie was selected as the NSW fullback for the clash with Queensland 10 days later, again at the SCG. NSW won this match 22-4 and Laurie scored one of the Blue’s tries.

He moved to Sydney in 1966 and joined the Balmain Tigers where he played 34 first grade matches in three seasons. , Laurie sat out the 1969 season along with Balmain team-mates Denis Tutty and Peter Jones because of dissatisfaction with the transfer system operating in those days.

In 1970, he played with North Sydney and in three seasons with the Bears, he played 38 games in the top grade. As well as a free running fullback, Laurie was also a more than capable centre. In the 1966 Grand Final, Laurie played in the centres alongside Kevin Yow Yeh, against St. George.

Laurie had two sons and two daughters. One of his sons, Peter, who is a primary schoolteacher in Griffith, is the coach of the 2018 NSW Primary Schools under 12 Rugby League team.

Rest in Peace, Laurie.

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