Latest news with #NaufahuWhyte
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Challenge I'm keen to accept': Naufahu Whyte has become a ‘beast' in 2025
Roosters prop Naufahu Whyte hopes that one day TV networks can include front-row rivalries in their pre-game graphics instead of focusing on playmakers, but he's more than happy to let his footy do the talking when he goes up against one of the big dogs in the NRL on Friday night. Whyte is in career-best form and was recently rewarded with an extension that'll keep him at the club until the end of the 2029 season. He plays in a pack with State of Origin representatives Lindsay Collins and Spencer Leniu, but the Kiwis star has arguably been the club's best prop this year after getting the chance to replace legend Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in the starting side. He's relished battles up front against Payne Haas and James Fisher-Harris, but he now has his eyes set on Sharks superstar Addin Fonua-Blake when the teams come together on Friday night in a game that has major finals implications. 'My respect goes out to all the top dogs out there because front row isn't an easy position. Players that do it every week by leading the pack deserve their respect,' he said. 'It's always good to go up against the likes of Payne Haas, Joe Tapine, James Fisher-Harris, Terrell May and now it's another challenge with Addin Fonua-Blake. 'Much respect to him, but when I cross that white line, it's a challenge for me and a challenge I'm keen to accept.' Young forwards like Taylor Losalu, Blake Steep and Salesi Foketi have played key roles for the Roosters in 2025, but Whyte has been their most dominant big man in the middle. He's averaging about 20 more minutes per game than he played in 2023, while his running metres have more than doubled from 70m per game to 143m this year, with Whyte cracking triple digits in every match since round 1. He had 231m against the Tigers earlier this month and credits coach Trent Robinson for trusting him to deliver after patiently waiting for his opportunity. 'He has stepped into that leadership role with Jared and a few other players going,' teammate Egan Butcher said. 'He's got such a calming presence for a front-rower, but I know that when he takes the field that he's going to take control and be the beast that he is. 'I don't know if I've seen a massive change in him, but I always know that he's never going to shy away from a challenge and he'll own his battle whoever he comes up against.' The Roosters have quietly risen to eighth spot but are one of several teams fighting for a place in the finals. They are level on points with the Sharks who concede they were 'embarrassed' when the teams met earlier in the year, with the Roosters beating them 42-16 despite being without their Origin stars, Whyte and a few others. 'It was a special win,' Butcher said. 'I feel like people may have written us off before that game with Origin players out, and people may have thought we had a depleted side. 'But that's what I love about this club. When the next people step up, we don't take a backwards step and we try to stick it to teams.'
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
NRL round 11 Friday football live: Bulldogs vs. Sydney Roosters, SuperCoach scores and stats
Lindsay Collins' return to the field couldn't come at a better time for the Roosters and their enforcer, with his clash against the top-of-the-table Bulldogs serving as a test to see if he is ready to make his way back into the Origin arena. Missing the majority of the start of the year due to a knee injury and virus, Collins has told this masthead that despite the time away, he would be ready to be selected in coach Billy Slater's top 17 if he gets through the clash with the Bulldogs on Friday night. 'I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about it. My focus is getting back on the field, and the Bulldogs is a big test, so yeah,' Collins said regarding retaining his Maroons jersey. 'I'm trying to not really think about it too much and give it too much energy because we need to be ready for the Bulldogs on Friday. 'It's going to take a full 80-minute performance to match it with them, so yeah, it's definitely the test.' Although Collins has missed the last four games for the Roosters, the experienced front rower has felt comfortable with his team's performances, especially his younger counterpart Naufahu Whyte. In Collins' absence, Whyte, 23, has been a revelation for the Roosters, and although the younger front-rower caught fans off guard, Collins always believed he would fill the role nicely. 'We always knew he was going to be good,' Collins said. 'He is always testing us in the opposing team, always giving us a bit of a headache, and it's great to finally see him get his flowers.' While there's been full focus on the Bulldogs for Collins this week, the 29-year-old has used his time away from the field to start preparing for life away from footy. Adding to his already long list of accomplishments, which include two NRL premierships, State of Origin series victories, and more recently a World Cup, Collins has put his hardman persona to the side to complete a diploma in mortgage broking. 'I have just become a mortgage broker and have started working with a seller under a mentorship,' Collins said. 'It was keeping me busy for a bit there, just doing bits and pieces which is good to prepare for life after football. I'm actually a carpenter by trade, but it got to the point where I realised I can't be on the tools at 35 after a 10-year career playing rugby league.' Despite a full-time training schedule with the Roosters, Collins has dedicated a day a week to his new career, catching up with his mentor to learn more about broking. In the lead up to Friday nights clash, Collins, along with Roosters teammates James Tedesco, Connor Watson, and Sam Walker, all caught up for a game of darts at the Sporting Globe Sydney, on King St Wharf, before the venue reopens on Friday. The team takes on the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Friday night.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Departing Sydney Roosters star Brandon Smith drops a HUGE Daly Cherry-Evans revelation ahead of move to Souths
Brandon Smith has sensationally claimed Daly Cherry-Evans is already 'signed and delivered' to the Sydney Roosters, in a stunning revelation just days after learning he was no longer wanted at Bondi. Speaking on 2GB's Wide World of Sports Radio on Thursday, Smith said Roosters officials haven't confirmed the deal publicly, but behind the scenes, it's all but done. 'I think Cherry-Evans has already been signed and delivered for a while now – everyone's just too afraid to admit it,' he said. The revelation follows news that Smith and winger Dominic Young have both been told they're free to leave the club early. Smith is expected to join arch-rivals South Sydney, while Young is likely headed back to Newcastle. The Roosters are reportedly clearing salary cap space, with Smith openly suggesting his departure is to make room for Cherry-Evans. Asked if his contract money was going to the Maroons skipper, Smith replied, 'I'm thinking it might be.' He also questioned why the Roosters weren't investing in youth instead. 'I was hoping [the money] would go towards some of the younger players that are coming through,' he said. 'If they don't snap them up now, they probably won't be able to keep them.' Smith specifically named Naufahu Whyte and Blake Steep as players deserving of pay rises at season's end. The 28-year-old, currently recovering from a knee injury, admitted he'd already played his last game in the red, white, and blue. 'It's not that I feel unloved, I feel unwanted, which is not quite the same,' he told 2GB. He said the Roosters never properly explained why they wanted him out. 'They're just excited to get rid of me, and get some money saved up for maybe this year, maybe next year.' Smith described learning of his exit through the media as 'blindsiding.' 'I'm blindsided by the fact the news came out through the media before I found out about it,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'Journos knew more than I did in this situation.' He added that he was 'a bit hungover' and 'very emotional' when he heard the news, having just attended a friend's wedding. 'I was in the car with my girlfriend. I didn't really know what was going on,' he said. 'The celebrations went on long enough to leave me very emotional when I heard the news.' Smith said Wayne Bennett was the first person to reach out after the news broke. 'I have no qualms with how the situation has panned out ... I get that it's a business,' he said. Bennett later told media he didn't think Smith would be at full fitness until 2025. But Smith disagreed, saying he was 'about eight weeks away' from being fully recovered. 'I can run at training, I can sidestep, I can do whatever you want,' he said. 'Now it's just making sure the patellar tendon is mature enough to handle a full 80-minute game.' The Roosters, meanwhile, have begun preparing for Cherry-Evans' arrival. Veteran playmaker Sam Walker is expected to shift to five-eighth, with DCE taking the No. 7 jersey. Walker welcomed the idea, saying, 'He's done it all in the game and we'd love to have him at the Roosters, that's for sure.' Coach Trent Robinson has insisted Sandon Smith still has a future at the club despite rumours his agent is shopping him to rivals. Sandon Smith starred in the Anzac Day clash against the Dragons, but may be pushed out if DCE arrives.
