In a stacked Junior Wallabies squad in 2022, there was one big name that had plenty of heads turning.
He’s yet to play a Super Rugby game but prop Massimo de Lutiis is the bolter to watch in 2025 after his selection in the Wallabies 40-player squad for a January camp.
Catch every game of SVNS World Series LIVE, ad-free and on demand on Stan Sport.
De Lutiis' inclusion is another massive sign of faith from Wallabies officials, which will be the only time the national squad will get together before the end of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
His talent was first displayed at the 2022 Junior World Championships when he was the standout against Ireland before his early departure. From here, a 10-8 lead disappeared amid frustrating circumstances as the Queensland prop did not play another minute.
He was signed by the Reds after spending some time in the Brumbies system as the Southport School product returned home.
In his first Queensland game, he made a sudden impact.
With the Reds stuck in a tight tussle with Japan’s Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, the tighthead bulldozed their scrum to secure the 31-29 win.
A quadricep injury kept him out of the 2024 Super Rugby season but a massive 202.5kg bench pass in April sent Ballymore wild.
It broke the record set by Taniela Tupou four years earlier as he returned in time for the Reds’ July series against Wales and Tonga.
The Reds reacted quickly to keep de Lutiis, adding another year to his deal to keep him in Queensland until at least 2026.
The talent was clear to be seen but even de Lutiis was taken aback by his selection in the Australia XV squad to face England A.
"I'm pretty happy about it, just trying to take in as much learning as possible, especially from the experienced boys and then throw my hat in the ring where I can," De Lutiis told reporters of his surprise inclusion in October.
"It was on my radar but I wasn't expecting anything. I didn't feel like I needed to make this but obviously I'm putting as much work in as possible.”
De Lutiis was thrown into the deep end, starting against the English and fellow young gun Asher Opoku-Fordjou.
Opoku-Fordjour would debut for England the following week against Japan and alongside Afolabi Fasogbon are considered the future of England’s front-row.
The pair took centre stage after towelling up the U20 World Championships on their way to the title, before turning their attention to some of the finest in the Premiership.
De Lutiis held his own for the majority of his 61-minute stint and even won a penalty against Opoku-Fordjou, with all eyes on the young star heading into next year.
He’ll have some major competition for game-time at the Reds, with Zane Nonggorr also included in the 40-player squad whilst Jeff Toomaga-Allen was one of the finds of the season.
However, the sky is the limit for the 21-year-old if his first five games are anything to go by.
