Aaron Whittaker
Encyclopedia
Aaron Whittaker is a former professional rugby league
footballer. A New Zealand international representative halfback, he played club football in Australia, England and New Zealand.
and was a Schoolboy Kiwi in 1983 before becoming part of the dominant Canterbury rugby league side of the early nineties. The side was coached by Frank Endacott
and included future stars such as Whetu Taewa
, Quentin Pongia
and Brent Stuart
. In Christchurch he played for two clubs, the Halswell Hornets and the Riccarton Knights.
His form was impressive enough to land a contract in the NSWRL Premiership, signing with the Illawarra Steelers
in 1992. Whittaker played in three games for the club, including a try-scoring effort against the Great Britain
touring side, returning to New Zealand at the end of the year.
In 1993 Whittaker was selected for the New Zealand Kiwis. He went on to play thirteen games for the national side, although only three were test matches. During this time he trained with Gary Freeman
and Daryl Halligan
and this allowed him to improve his halfback and goal kicking skills. In 1994 he was part of the Kiwis tour of Papua New Guinea
. Between 1990 and 1994 he played in 17 games for Canterbury, scoring thirteen tries.
in the new Lion Red Cup
and at the half way stage was the competitions leading points scorer. As a result, he began to attract interest from overseas clubs and agreed to a mid-season transfer, joining Wakefield Trinity
. He returned to the Cardinals in the English offseason and played in part of the 1995 Lion Red Cup.
After being released by the Warriors he returned to local football in Canterbury, playing for his old side the Haswell Hornets. In 2001 he was involved in the South Island team that played the touring French side
.
.
He is now involved in Canterbury Rugby League as a referee.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer. A New Zealand international representative halfback, he played club football in Australia, England and New Zealand.
Early years
Whittaker grew up in ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and was a Schoolboy Kiwi in 1983 before becoming part of the dominant Canterbury rugby league side of the early nineties. The side was coached by Frank Endacott
Frank Endacott
Frank Morris Endacott, ONZM is a retired rugby league player and coach from New Zealand. His son, Shane, also played rugby league.-Playing career:Endacott played for Addington and Hornby in the Canterbury Rugby League competition...
and included future stars such as Whetu Taewa
Whetu Taewa
Whetu Taewa is a former professional rugby league player who represented his country six times between 1989 and 1996.-New Zealand:...
, Quentin Pongia
Quentin Pongia
Quentin Lee Pongia is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who represented his country. He is the grandson of fellow Kiwi international Jim Calder and his sister Megan Tahapeehi has also represented the Kiwi Ferns.-Playing career:Originally from the West Coast,...
and Brent Stuart
Brent Stuart
Brent Clifford Stuart is a rugby league coach and former player who represented his country.-Playing career:A West Coast and Canterbury representative, Stuart spent two years in the Northern Territory in the mid-1980s and represented the Territory against Parramatta. In 1993 he was invited to be...
. In Christchurch he played for two clubs, the Halswell Hornets and the Riccarton Knights.
His form was impressive enough to land a contract in the NSWRL Premiership, signing with the Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
in 1992. Whittaker played in three games for the club, including a try-scoring effort against the Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
touring side, returning to New Zealand at the end of the year.
In 1993 Whittaker was selected for the New Zealand Kiwis. He went on to play thirteen games for the national side, although only three were test matches. During this time he trained with Gary Freeman
Gary Freeman
Gary Freeman is the name of:*Gary Freeman , sculptor from Indianapolis, Indiana*Gary Freeman , NBA player in 1970*Gary Freeman , New Zealand rugby league player...
and Daryl Halligan
Daryl Halligan
Daryl Halligan is a rugby league football commentator and former professional player. A New Zealand international winger, he was the pre-eminent goal-kicker of his era, retiring as the highest point scorer in Australian premiership history...
and this allowed him to improve his halfback and goal kicking skills. In 1994 he was part of the Kiwis tour of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
. Between 1990 and 1994 he played in 17 games for Canterbury, scoring thirteen tries.
England
In 1994 he played for the Canterbury CardinalsCanterbury Country Cardinals
The Canterbury Country Cardinals were a New Zealand rugby league club that represented Canterbury in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1996. They were administered by the Canterbury Rugby League....
in the new Lion Red Cup
Lion Red Cup
The Lion Red Cup was a New Zealand domestic rugby league competition that ran from 1994-1996 sponsored by brewers Lion Nathan. It was created due to the increase in public awareness of domestic rugby league due to the Auckland Warriors being accepted into the Winfield Cup. The competition was a...
and at the half way stage was the competitions leading points scorer. As a result, he began to attract interest from overseas clubs and agreed to a mid-season transfer, joining Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
. He returned to the Cardinals in the English offseason and played in part of the 1995 Lion Red Cup.
Return to New Zealand
After a spell in England he returned to New Zealand, signing for the Auckland Warriors. He played eight first grade games for the Warriors in the 1997 and 1998 seasons, under the clubs new head coach Frank Endacott.After being released by the Warriors he returned to local football in Canterbury, playing for his old side the Haswell Hornets. In 2001 he was involved in the South Island team that played the touring French side
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
.
Later years
In 2002 he was named the head trainer for the New Zealand 'A' sides tour of France and the United States, a position he retained for the sides 2003 tour of Australia, where he worked under former team mate Terry HermanssonTerry Hermansson
Terry "The Rock" Hermansson is a former New Zealand rugby league player. An international representative prop forward, he played club football in England, Australia and New Zealand.-Playing career:...
.
He is now involved in Canterbury Rugby League as a referee.