18 August 2025
As seen on nrl.com
Roosters forward Naufahu Whyte has pledged his allegiance to the Kiwis after crediting last year’s New Zealand debut for acting as a springboard for a dominant 2025 NRL season.
The Auckland-born talent was a standout performer in a difficult 2024 Pacific Championships campaign for the Kiwis, impressing in his first taste of the Test arena.
Whyte is also eligible to play for both Samoa and Tonga and while he would like to represent those sides of his heritage in the future, the Roosters star declared his commitment to New Zealand for this year’s international window.
The three nations will face off during the 2025 Pacific Championships, with the Kiwis chasing redemption after last year’s loss to Tonga.
Whyte’s pledge comes just a day after Kangaroos star Payne Haas declared his allegiance to Samoa for the tournament and next year’s World Cup.
“I’m half Tongan and half Samoan and hopefully one day I get to represent the red and blue jerseys but New Zealand’s my home,” Whyte said.
“That’s where I was born, it’s where I grew up and my childhood, my family and friends all came from there. I want to represent where I came from in the black jersey.
“That was always something I wanted to put on. Whether it was the All Blacks or the Kiwis, it was something I wanted to put on one day. Hopefully I get to put it on again this year but if not, hopefully I’ll play somewhere else.”
Whyte was a rugby union and league star growing up in New Zealand before joining the Roosters pathway system as a teenager.
The physicality and pace of the 13-player game sucked him in and he hasn’t looked back.
An NRL debut followed in 2021, where he was mentored by Roosters and Kiwis legend Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
The veteran’s departure last year opened the door for Whyte to step up and he’s developed into a leader in the tricolours’ pack.
While just 23 years old, the middle forward said last year’s New Zealand debut gave him the confidence to find his voice at the Roosters.
“This has been my break-out year,” Whyte said. “It’s definitely my best season so far.
“Since Jared left, I felt for myself I had to step up in that role and I’m doing it alongside my brothers Lindsay [Collins] and Spencer [Leniu] and we’ve got some young boys coming through.
“I put that on myself coming into this year. I had the experience of the Kiwis, which gave me a lot of confidence to do so. I came in this year, kept my head down and put it upon myself to lead. I wasn’t wanting to be that big dog, but I just wanted to go about my business and let my actions do the talking.”
Whyte’s recent dominance has helped the Roosters surge into the top eight as they chase a finals berth in what many outsiders initially viewed as a rebuilding year.
The middle forward scored a double in last week’s statement win over the Bulldogs, running through Lachlan Galvin on the way to the try line.
Whyte is averaging 155 running metres a game, double the figure from last season, and will be looking to lay the foundation up front in Saturday night’s clash with the Eels.
The prop has formed an imposing front-row unit with Origin stars Lindsay Collins and Spencer Leniu and captain James Tedesco said the trio have set the tone for the side.
“He’s been here for a while since he first came as a young kid,” Tedesco said. “I’ve felt this year he’s just grown and matured as a person and a player. He’s really turned into a leader.
“You see how he goes about his business week in, week out. He prepares so well and those performances aren’t surprising because he’s been doing it all year for us.
“It’s not just the nice carries, it’s the little things off the ball that’s he’s worked hard on and he’s become one of the best frontrowers in the game. With Spence and Lindsay, those there are leading the way for us and they’ve been awesome.”
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