LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Front-rower Naufahu Whyte is enjoying a standout season with the Sydney Roosters, emerging as a strong candidate for the 2025 Dally M Team of the Year.
Having represented the New Zealand Kiwis at the end of 2024, Whyte has elevated his performance this season and has established himself as one of the top forwards in the league.
At only 23 and with just 53 matches under his belt, he is already viewed as a successor to Jared Warea-Hargreaves at the Roosters and finds himself being compared to legendary Kiwis such as Joseph Tapine, Moses Leota, and James Fisher-Harris.
Despite being born in Auckland and having the opportunity to pursue an All Blacks career, Whyte had a natural inclination towards rugby league from an early age.
A former centre in both rugby league and union, his passion for league has always been stronger. When asked why he opted for rugby league over rugby union-despite starting with the latter-Whyte expressed that it was the game's speed that ultimately captivated him.