Moorby, who has just completed a Bachelor of Health and Sport in human performance and is looking to do post-graduate teaching study, said he received word from the Hurricanes after Southland performed well in a practice game with Wellington last month.
"I was lost for words, it was a pretty cool phone call to get and I was excited for the opportunity," he said.
It had been a long-term goal to play professional rugby, and he was grateful for the chance. He had time with the Highlanders as injury cover that opened his eyes and helped him realise he could compete at the higher level.
From Te Awamutu, he went to school there before going to Hamilton Boys' High School. It was there that he and fellow Hurricanes newcomer Bailyn Sullivan were potential team-mates for Waikato Under-19, but Sullivan left that squad to play NPC rugby for Waikato.
For different reasons, Moorby found his way to Invercargill and has had three years playing for Southland.
"They were the first people to give me an opportunity to play at a higher level and I haven't looked back, it's been an awesome experience. I really love it down there," he said.
Southland had improved in the past two seasons and had been close in several games, and he said coach Dale McLeod had played a role in the side's lift.
"You can see over the last couple of years where we have grown. The likes of Marty Banks coming this year helped my game and having the old head of Marty McKenzie outside me. Gaining knowledge and experience from them has helped my game.
"With us being more of a team that can upset those big guns like you saw we could do against Canterbury and in that friendly against Wellington, we were there or thereabouts.
"It's just those last little things that are stopping us getting those wins but, as soon as we can start winning, there will be a lot more people, hopefully, from that Southland region that can take the next step," he said.
"I did go down the Sevens pathway at one stage and was lucky enough to get a tour with them," he said.
His time with the Highlanders also involved a trip to Melbourne, and that experience gave him the incentive to play well in the NPC in the hope of getting a Super contract.
"I've done that and I'm looking forward to what 2022 can bring," he said.
Being able to rub shoulders with the impressive array of outside backs the Hurricanes have in their squad was something he was looking forward to, especially the way they managed their preparation.
Moorby said he was happy to play either fullback or wing and would do whatever he could to get some game minutes.