Brett White
Encyclopedia
Brett White is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer for the Canberra Raiders
, and formally of the Melbourne Storm
of the NRL
. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative prop forward, he has played his whole career to date at the Storm, with whom he won the 2007 and 2009 premierships before the Storm was subsequently stripped of both titles.
team but leg and ankle injuries halted his progress in 2003 and 2004. With props such as Luke Bailey and Jason Ryles
ahead of him, White was unable to make his way into first-grade and he relocated to the Melbourne Storm.
White made his first-grade debut in Round one, 2005, scoring a try against the Newcastle Knights
at Olympic Park
. At the end of the season he was named the Storm's Rookie of the Year after becoming Robbie Kearns
' starting front-row partner. He was a member of the Melbourne Storm team to face the Brisbane Broncos
in the 2006 NRL Grand Final, losing 15–8. The next year he was a member of the winning grand final against Manly.
White played in the 2008 NRL Grand Final defeat to the Manly.
He played in the 2009 premiership
against Parramatta
.
's Fuifui Moimoi
for which Moimoi was later exonerated after a lengthy judiciary hearing. He was also again in the act against Parramatta in 2007, accused of a chicken wing tackle on their captain Nathan Cayless
in that year's preliminary final. In round two, 2008, White was sent off for retaliating to a Ben Ross
elbow to team-mate Cooper Cronk
which also saw Ross sent off. Cronk's kick found Israel Folau
who scored the match-levelling try. He was given a four match ban.
More recently White was involved in an Origin scuffle with Steve Price (see below).
team, defeating City by 12–10.
White was selected to represent New South Wales as a front-rower for game I and on the bench for game II of the 2007 State of Origin
series.
In 2008, White made himself available for Ireland's
2008 Rugby League World Cup
campaign and in August he was named in the Ireland training squad. Although White was named in the Irish squad, he was forced to withdraw following the NRL grand final, when he was scheduled for foot surgery.
White was also named in the 46-man Australian preliminary squad for the World Cup.
White played in the opening two State of Origin matches for New South Wales in 2010, scoring a try in the second match, but was dropped for the third game.
), playing a leading role in a controversial NSW victory. In the closing stages of the contest White was involved in a scuffle with Queensland prop Steve Price which left Price unconscious. Later that month fellow former NSW rep John Hopoate said while being interviewed "White, if you're going to knock Pricey out I will knock you out". White refused an offer to fight Hopoate in a boxing match.
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 for the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
, and formally of the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
of the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative prop forward, he has played his whole career to date at the Storm, with whom he won the 2007 and 2009 premierships before the Storm was subsequently stripped of both titles.
Playing career
Growing up in the NSW high country in Berridale, White started his rugby league career with the Cooma Colts. He was a promising junior and was graded by St. George Illawarra Dragons from school. White was a key member of the Dragon's Jersey Flegg CupJersey Flegg Cup
The Jersey Flegg Cup was a junior rugby league competition played in New South Wales, contested among teams made up of players aged under 20. The competition was administered by the New South Wales Rugby League and run concurrently with the National Rugby League...
team but leg and ankle injuries halted his progress in 2003 and 2004. With props such as Luke Bailey and Jason Ryles
Jason Ryles
Jason Ryles is an Australian rugby league player. He has played in the National Rugby League for the Sydney Roosters and the St. George Illawarra Dragons and in Europe's Super League for the Catalans Dragons. He is contracted to play for the Melbourne Storm from 2012...
ahead of him, White was unable to make his way into first-grade and he relocated to the Melbourne Storm.
White made his first-grade debut in Round one, 2005, scoring a try against the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
at Olympic Park
Olympic Park, Melbourne
The Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct is a series of sports venues and stadia, located in Melbourne, Victoria, in Australia. The precinct is situated around 3 km east of the Melbourne city centre, between the suburbs of East Melbourne and Richmond, and close to the north-eastern bank of...
. At the end of the season he was named the Storm's Rookie of the Year after becoming Robbie Kearns
Robbie Kearns
Robbie Kearns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer in the National Rugby League competition whose senior career began with the Cronulla Sharks. He represented New South Wales in State of Origin and Australia in international matches. His position of choice was at Prop Forward...
' starting front-row partner. He was a member of the Melbourne Storm team to face the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
in the 2006 NRL Grand Final, losing 15–8. The next year he was a member of the winning grand final against Manly.
White played in the 2008 NRL Grand Final defeat to the Manly.
He played in the 2009 premiership
2009 NRL Grand Final
The 2009 NRL Grand Final was a rugby league football game played on 4 October 2009 at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney. It was the 12th annual championship game of the National Rugby League staged to decide the premiers of the 2009 NRL season....
against Parramatta
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
.
Controversies
White's first grade career have involved some controversial incidents. In round 14, 2006, White lodged a biting complaint against ParramattaParramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
's Fuifui Moimoi
Fuifui Moimoi
Fuifui Moana Moimoi is a New Zealand-Tongan professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League competition.-Playing career:...
for which Moimoi was later exonerated after a lengthy judiciary hearing. He was also again in the act against Parramatta in 2007, accused of a chicken wing tackle on their captain Nathan Cayless
Nathan Cayless
Nathan Frederick Cayless is a retired New Zealand-Australian professional rugby league footballer, who was a long-time captain the Parramatta Eels of the National Rugby League. His position of choice was prop forward. He is also a former captain of the New Zealand national team, whom he led to...
in that year's preliminary final. In round two, 2008, White was sent off for retaliating to a Ben Ross
Ben Ross
Ben Ross is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League . A Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he has previously played club football for St...
elbow to team-mate Cooper Cronk
Cooper Cronk
Cooper Patrick Cronk is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL...
which also saw Ross sent off. Cronk's kick found Israel Folau
Israel Folau
Israel Folau is a professional Australian rules footballer currently listed with the Greater Western Sydney Football Club in the Australian Football League . He previously played Rugby league for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League from 2007 to 2008 where he broke the record for most...
who scored the match-levelling try. He was given a four match ban.
More recently White was involved in an Origin scuffle with Steve Price (see below).
Representative career
In 2006, White made his representative debut in the Country OriginCity vs Country Origin
City vs Country is an annual Australian rugby league football match that takes place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represents the Sydney metropolitan area...
team, defeating City by 12–10.
White was selected to represent New South Wales as a front-rower for game I and on the bench for game II of the 2007 State of Origin
2007 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 2007 State of Origin series was the 26th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules. Queensland won the series by winning the...
series.
In 2008, White made himself available for Ireland's
Ireland national rugby league team
The Ireland national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, represent the island of Ireland in rugby league football. The team is organized by Rugby League Ireland and are accredited as an affiliate member of the Rugby League International Federation...
2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
campaign and in August he was named in the Ireland training squad. Although White was named in the Irish squad, he was forced to withdraw following the NRL grand final, when he was scheduled for foot surgery.
White was also named in the 46-man Australian preliminary squad for the World Cup.
White played in the opening two State of Origin matches for New South Wales in 2010, scoring a try in the second match, but was dropped for the third game.
Steve Price incident
Game 3 of the 2009 series also saw White return to State of Origin (replacing the injured Michael WeymanMichael Weyman
Michael Weyman is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League...
), playing a leading role in a controversial NSW victory. In the closing stages of the contest White was involved in a scuffle with Queensland prop Steve Price which left Price unconscious. Later that month fellow former NSW rep John Hopoate said while being interviewed "White, if you're going to knock Pricey out I will knock you out". White refused an offer to fight Hopoate in a boxing match.