Naufahu Whyte has barely had time to celebrate his first NRL premiership but the Roosters enforcer is already preparing for another shot at international glory.
Little more than a week after producing a remarkable grand final performance, Whyte will swap his Roosters colours for the black jersey when New Zealand opens its World Cup campaign against the Kangaroos.
The 24-year-old played a starring role in the 19-18 victory over Newcastle, running for 189 metres and breaking four tackles as the Roosters fought back from 12-0 down to claim their first title since 2019.
It capped a breakout season for Whyte, who has emerged as one of the game's middles and was rewarded with Dally M Team of the Year honours.
“I have dreamt my whole life since I was a little kid to be in this position and to be here right now, it still doesn’t feel real,” Whyte said in the winning sheds post-match.
Naufahu Whyte Try
“I knew our boys were going to bounce back. We came into half-time six points down but we still had that confidence and that belief to get the job done.
“I know a lot of people doubted us and wrote us off, thinking we weren’t going to win this. I love proving haters wrong.
“I love that they were talking about the Knights throughout the week. That gave us external motivation to go out there and prove people wrong.”
Now, with a premiership ring on his finger, Whyte has barely had time to soak it all in before turning his attention to the World Cup.
Roosters v Knights – Grand Final, 2026
“It’s always special representing my home,” Whyte said.
“It looks like I’m only going to have one day off, then I’m straight into camp.
“It’s always special pulling on that black jersey. For myself, that’s my home, that’s where I grew up, that’s where footy started for me.
“Any opportunity I get to put that black jersey on, I wear it with pride and do what I do best.
“I look forward to this World Cup and hopefully I can get another championship there.”
First up is a blockbuster against the Kangaroos at Allianz Stadium, where Whyte will go toe-to-toe with Roosters teammates James Tedesco and Sam Walker.
“Brothers right now, but once you cross that white line at Allianz, it’s war,” Whyte said.
Kangaroos v Kiwis - Pacific Cup final, 2023
“That’s what we do as players. You play with each other, then the next week you’re against each other. It’s just what we do, it’s the people that we are.
“We all know how to turn that switch when it’s coming against your brother.
“But at the end of the day, it’s all love. It’ll be a good battle against the brothers, but we’re going to enjoy the celebrations as brothers.”
At just 24, Whyte is already a premiership winner and six-Test Kiwi, but his rise this season has firmly established him among the NRL’s emerging elite forwards.
Career night for Whyte
His next challenge will be to bring that blistering form into the World Cup, where New Zealand boasts an imposing front-row rotation featuring some of the game’s most experienced props.
Whyte will line up alongside the likes of James Fisher-Harris, Joseph Tapine and Moses Leota, players he has looked up to throughout his career.
“All those brothers, they’ll be the brothers I look up to,” he said.
“I’ve always been looking up to them since being in the Kiwis.
“Wherever I can give my input in my game or speaking, whatever that may be, I’ll do that.
“We have a group of all-star leaders in our team that pave the way for us young ones coming through."
