Lachlan Maranta

Lachlan Maranta

Personal information
Born	(1992-04-17) 17 April 1992 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Height	187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	93 kg (14 st 9 lb)
Playing information
Rugby league
Position	Wing, Fullback
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2012–16	Brisbane Broncos	70	30	0	0	120
Rugby union
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2017–	Queensland Reds	0	0	0	0	0
Source: [1]

Lachlan Maranta (born 17 April 1992) is a professional Rugby union footballer who currently plays for the Queensland Reds of the Super Rugby. Maranta is a former Rugby League player for the Brisbane Broncos who primarily played as a winger and sometimes fullback, Maranta is the grandson of Broncos co-founder Barry Maranta, the son of former Broncos player Brett Plowman, and the nephew of former Bronco Darren Plowman.

Background

Born in Brisbane, Queensland, Maranta grew up surrounded by rugby league. His grandfather, Barry, was a Brisbane Broncos co-founder, his father, Brett Plowman, played six seasons for the team and his mother, Robyn, was an assistant to then Broncos coach Wayne Bennett. A Broncos ball boy at age 5, Maranta started playing rugby league for the Wests Panthers. Lachlan attended St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace where he made numerous sporting honours. Apart from rugby Maranta was also a talented cricketer and exceptional track and field athlete whilst growing up, but made the choice to follow his league dream when he was 16.^[2] Maranta represented Queensland under 16's, under 18's and Queensland Schoolboys during his teenage years.^[3][4] Maranta joined the Broncos Toyota Cup team in 2010 and played 30 games for them between 2010 and 2011. Despite still being eligible for the Toyota Cup in 2012, Maranta started playing for the Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup. While playing for the Devils, Maranta was called up to play fullback for Queensland against New South Wales in the inaugural Under 20's State of Origin at Penrith Stadium in the Maroons 18-14 loss.^[5][6]

Playing career

2012

In Round 14 of the 2012 NRL season, Maranta made his NRL debut for the Brisbane Broncos in against the Sydney Roosters on the wing, scoring a try and making 2 line breaks in the 40-22 win at SFS.^[7] In June 2012, Maranta was named at fullback in the Queensland Residents side against New South Wales Residents in the 20-14 win.^[8][9] Maranta finished the 2012 NRL season being named the Brisbane Broncos Rookie of the Year with him playing in 7 matches and scoring 2 tries his debut year in the NRL.

2013

Maranta finished the 2013 NRL season with him playing in 18 matches and scoring 5 tries for the Broncos.

2014

On 30 May, Maranta re-signed with the Broncos to the end of the 2016 season.^[10] He finished the 2014 NRL season with 5 tries from 17 matches.

2015

On 21 January 2015, Maranta was named in the Brisbane Broncos 2015 Auckland Nines squad.^[11] In Round 19 against the Wests Tigers, he scored a hat-trick in the Broncos' 42-16 win at Suncorp Stadium.^[12] He finished off the 2015 season as the Broncos' highest try-scorer with 15 tries in 20 matches.^[13] On 15 December, Maranta was named on interchange bench for the World All Stars to play against the Indigenous All Stars in 2016.^[14]

2016

On 19 January, Maranta suffered a massive setback before the season after he fractured a bone in his wrist at training, robbing him of playing in the 2016 All Stars match.^[15] He was expected to miss about 10-12 weeks of football but made an early return in Round 4 in the grand final rematch against the North Queensland Cowboys in the Broncos' golden point 21-20 victory.^[16][17] After the match, Maranta spent his time playing in the Queensland Cup for the Norths Devils but succumbed to a knee injury and was ruled out for 8 weeks.^[18][19] Maranta returned for the Broncos for the second time in Round 12 against the Wests Tigers, scoring a try in the 19-18 loss.^[20]

In August, Maranta signed a 2-year deal with the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby, switching over the 15-man code where he played the sport during his high school years.^[21] After the signing was announced, Maranta was subjected to criticism by former Wallabies player Greg Martin, labelling Maranta as the worst signing he has ever seen in his life. Martin also said on the Triple M Breakfast Radio Show, “If the Reds want to get a player who the Broncos ... sorry ... but if Wayne Bennett is prepared to get rid of his godson and his former PA’s son and Brett Plowman’s son in Lachie Maranta. If he’s prepared to get rid of him, that would indicate that he’s a crap player. The Reds immediately snapped him up and crowed about it. That is the worst signing I’ve ever seen. It’s the last thing the Reds need because there is something that Queensland Rugby has got everywhere through youth rugby, through schools rugby, is exciting young wingers and we pick up a dud who the Broncos want to get rid of because he’s had a knee injury".^[22][23] Maranta finished his last season with the Broncos with him playing in 8 matches and scoring 3 tries.

References

External links

• 2016 Brisbane Broncos profile