Grant Rovelli
Encyclopedia
Grant Rovelli is an Australian rugby league
player. From 2006 to 2010 he played in the National Rugby League
(NRL) for the New Zealand Warriors
and the North Queensland Cowboys
. He is of Italian descent and has represented Italy's national rugby league team
. His usual position is halfback
.
and moved to Sydney
. In Sydney he played for the Sydney Roosters Premier League team for three years, including the 2004 Grand Final winning side and the side that lost the 2005 Grand Final.
signed Rovelli before the 2006 season. Head Coach Ivan Cleary
had previously coached Rovelli during his time at the Roosters. He made his National Rugby League
debut in Round One 2006 when he started off the bench. However later in the season he managed to secure the role of halfback
and by the season's end he was a finalist for the Dally M Rookie of the Year award
. Rovelli won the Vodafone Young Player of the Year award in the club's annual awards night. His final two seasons with the club were marked by indifferent form that saw him move in and out of the first grade side.
in the Queensland Cup
.
After the end of his Cowboys contract, he captained the Mackay Cutters
in the Queensland Cup
and in 2011 was part of the Queensland Residents side that defeated the New South Wales Residents 32–6.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player. From 2006 to 2010 he played in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL) for the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
and the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. He is of Italian descent and has represented Italy's national rugby league team
Italy national rugby league team
The Italy national rugby league team represents Italy in international rugby league football. The team dates back from the 1950s after the formation of a domestic competition in the country, and in the 1960s they played Australia, France and a number of English teams.The game disappeared in Italy...
. His usual position is halfback
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
.
Early career
After playing for the Cowboys as a junior, Rovelli signed with the Sydney RoostersSydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
and moved to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. In Sydney he played for the Sydney Roosters Premier League team for three years, including the 2004 Grand Final winning side and the side that lost the 2005 Grand Final.
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand WarriorsNew Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
signed Rovelli before the 2006 season. Head Coach Ivan Cleary
Ivan Cleary
Ivan Cleary is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League and former head coach of the New Zealand Warriors where he achieved much success...
had previously coached Rovelli during his time at the Roosters. He made his National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
debut in Round One 2006 when he started off the bench. However later in the season he managed to secure the role of halfback
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
and by the season's end he was a finalist for the Dally M Rookie of the Year award
Dally M Awards
The Dally M Awards are the official annual player awards for the National Rugby League competition. The most prestigious of these awards is the Dally M Medal which is only ever awarded to Australian born Players...
. Rovelli won the Vodafone Young Player of the Year award in the club's annual awards night. His final two seasons with the club were marked by indifferent form that saw him move in and out of the first grade side.
North Queensland Cowboys
On the 3 December 2008 it was announced that the Warriors had released Rovelli from his final year of his contract so he could join the North Queensland Cowboys. He signed for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Rovelli also played for the Mackay CuttersMackay Cutters
The Mackay Cutters RLFC are a semi-professional rugby league football club founded in 2007 based in Mackay, Queensland. They, along with the Northern Pride, will be one of two expansion teams for the 2008 season of the Queensland Cup. Their home ground will be at the Mackay & District Junior Rugby...
in the Queensland Cup
Queensland Cup
The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...
.
After the end of his Cowboys contract, he captained the Mackay Cutters
Mackay Cutters
The Mackay Cutters RLFC are a semi-professional rugby league football club founded in 2007 based in Mackay, Queensland. They, along with the Northern Pride, will be one of two expansion teams for the 2008 season of the Queensland Cup. Their home ground will be at the Mackay & District Junior Rugby...
in the Queensland Cup
Queensland Cup
The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...
and in 2011 was part of the Queensland Residents side that defeated the New South Wales Residents 32–6.