Whyte Hot: Naufahu on JWH, Hairstyles, Eli Katoa, and Plans to Become Game’s Top Prop
Payne Haas is widely regarded as the best front-rower in the game. The player aiming to replace him at the top of the props will face him on Sunday.
Naufahu Whyte's Early Experiences
Roosters and New Zealand enforcer Naufahu Whyte has lost track of how many times he’s been compared to Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. He vividly recalls their first encounter at the end of 2020 when COVID-19 was still impacting daily life.
At just 18 years old, Whyte arrived from New Zealand on a train-and-trial deal with the Roosters. One day, while watching the NRL team train, coach Trent Robinson singled him out and invited him to join a drill.
“I remember feeling honoured and starstruck when looking around and seeing the likes of Jared, Isaac Liu and Sio Siua Taukeiaho,” Whyte recalled. “I then took my first carry and got absolutely pumped. I didn’t know who had hit me at the time, but I got smoked. To my surprise, I looked up and it was Jared. He just stood over me, gave me that look, and didn’t say a word. I was like, ‘did that bro just hit me?’ He hit me so hard. I’m pretty certain it was shoulder to mouth.
Whyte had trained in his own age group and always knew what to expect, but that moment made him realise he was competing with the best.
“None of the boys came and helped me get up. Then we were doing recovery and Jared came up, shook my hand, and said, ‘nice to meet you, bro’.”
Looking Ahead
Whyte is gearing up to challenge established stars and cement his place as one of the game’s top props.
Author’s summary: Naufahu Whyte's journey from a young hopeful to a rising front-rower shows his resilience and determination to become the best prop in rugby league.