Queensland rugby league mourns death of former Northern Pride captain Ryan Ghietti, 37
Queensland rugby league star and former Northern Pride captain Ryan Ghietti has died, aged 37, prompting tributes from across the state and the international rugby league community.
The former Italy international, who hailed from Innisfail in Far North Queensland, leaves behind his wife, Stacey, and their two children, Grace and James.
Ryan Ghietti with his wife Stacey. GoFund Me
Club stalwart and record appearance-holder
Ghietti built his senior career with Northern Pride, the Cairns-based club that competes in Queensland’s statewide elite competition, the Queensland Cup. He was part of the club’s premiership-winning side in 2014 and was appointed captain in 2016.
Northern Pride described him as the club’s most-capped player, with 165 appearances in the Pride jersey – a benchmark that underlines his importance as a long-term on-field leader and a constant presence across multiple campaigns.
In a club statement, Northern Pride highlighted both his playing record and his ongoing support of the team after retiring from elite competition.
“With an incredible 165 appearances in the Pride jersey, Ryan holds the distinction of being the club’s most-capped player, a remarkable achievement that reflects his dedication, consistency and commitment to Northern Pride,” the club said.
“Beyond his achievements on the field, Ryan remained a familiar and much-loved presence at Northern Pride home games, regularly supporting the club from the stands.
“His absence will be deeply felt… he will forever hold a special place in the club’s history and the hearts of those who knew him.
“The Northern Pride Board, players, staff and wider club community extend their heartfelt condolences to Ryan’s young family, his friends, former teammates, colleagues and mates in the Queensland Fire Department, and everyone whose life he touched.”
For the club and for the Hostplus Cup structure more broadly, the loss of a figure with that level of continuity and local connection is significant. Players such as Ghietti often provide the bridge between junior pathways and professional systems, helping sustain standards and culture in regions that supply talent to the national and international game.
Key figure in Italy’s rise on the Rugby League World Cup stage
Ghietti was heavily involved with the Italian national team during a period when Italy was establishing itself as a competitive emerging nation on the international calendar. He was selected in their Rugby League World Cup squad in both 2013 and 2017.
Before that 2013 tournament, he kicked a crucial field goal that sealed Italy’s qualification for their first Rugby League World Cup. That moment helped secure the Azzurri a place in the sport’s global showpiece for the first time and gave Italian rugby league a platform to grow visibility and credibility among the second-tier nations.
Ghietti represented Italy between 2011 and 2016. During that time, national-team opportunities such as the World Cup and its qualification cycle were governed within the international framework overseen by the sport’s global authorities, giving players from domestic competitions like the Queensland Cup a pathway onto the world stage.
Italy team manager Reno Santaguida paid tribute to Ghietti with a “heavy heart”, reflecting the esteem in which he was held inside the Azzurri programme.
“Ryan will forever hold a special place in Italian rugby league history, kicking the unforgettable field goal that helped send Italy to its first-ever Rugby League World Cup in 2013,” Santaguida said.
“Once an Azzurri, always Azzurri.”
For emerging nations, such qualification milestones shape future fixtures, funding opportunities and player engagement. Ghietti’s role in Italy’s 2013 breakthrough therefore carries weight beyond a single kick; it contributed to the country’s ability to attract heritage players, schedule higher-profile games and remain part of the sport’s long-term international conversation.
From Innisfail juniors to versatile playmaker
Before his senior achievements, Ghietti played his junior football for Innisfail Brothers in Far North Queensland. That grounding in a regional rugby league heartland underpinned the skills that later made him a valued playmaker at state and international level.
He went on to build a career as a versatile halfback, five-eighth and hooker – roles that demand tactical awareness, kicking accuracy, game management and defensive resilience. That flexibility made him particularly valuable in the Queensland Cup system, where squads often balance promising youngsters, NRL-aligned talent and experienced leaders.
Within that structure, players capable of covering multiple spine positions, as Ghietti did, can influence squad selection, rotation and depth across long seasons. His presence would have provided coaches with stability and options in key positions, especially during periods of injury, representative call-ups or player movement.
Impact on community and wider rugby league network
Beyond his playing commitments, the response to Ghietti’s death illustrates the breadth of his impact across club, country and community. Northern Pride emphasised that he remained a regular face at home games after his playing days, reinforcing the link between past and present squads.
The club also acknowledged his connections beyond rugby league, including colleagues and mates in the Queensland Fire Department. That crossover into public service underscores the way many semi-professional athletes in state competitions balance demanding careers alongside their playing commitments.
A fundraising page has been set up for Ghietti’s young family, which states that the “sudden and unexpected loss of Ryan” has rocked the community. The campaign is nearing its goal of $80,000, reflecting the depth of support from those he knew in Far North Queensland, within the Italian rugby league community and across the wider game.
For Queensland rugby league and for Italy’s national team, Ghietti’s legacy is framed by both numbers and moments: 165 appearances for Northern Pride, a premiership in 2014, the captaincy in 2016, and the field goal that took Italy to its first Rugby League World Cup. For his family, friends, teammates and colleagues, it is also defined by the impact he had off the field and the networks now rallying around them in the wake of his passing.
