Russell Packer

Having played rugby union growing up, Russell Packer made the switch to rugby league just before becoming a teenager — quickly earning selection in New Zealand junior representative sides with both the U/16's in 2005 and U/18's in 2007.

After captaining the Junior Kiwis side, Packer joined the New Zealand Warriors squad in 2007 before making his first-grade debut the following year. He would play just four games in his rookie season; instead featuring primarily for the Junior Warriors in the Toyota Cup where he was named in the 2008 Toyota Cup Team of the Year alongside teammate Ben Matulino.

Packer played for New Zealand Maori in 2010 before cracking the national team in 2011 as part of the Four Nations. He would continue to thrive at the Warriors — helping the side to the Grand Final, which they would loss to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, before spending another two seasons in New Zealand. From his six seasons at the Warriors, Packer would play 110 games and scored six tries.

Signing a contract with the Newcastle Knights ahead of the 2014 season, Packer was convicted of assault which saw him remain out of the game until midway through the 2015 season. He would return to the game through the St. George-Illawarra Dragons NSW Cup side Illawarra, and was named in the NSW Cup Team of the Year that season after several impressive performances.

Approved to return to the NRL in 2016, Packer would play 41 games in his two seasons at the Dragons that saw him also return to career-best form. He would find himself back on the international arena with selection in the 2017 ANZAC Test and World Cup squads for New Zealand in what would be his final games for the Kiwis — retiring from international football the following year.

Joining Wests Tigers on a long-term deal in 2018, the talented prop was named one of five co-captains for the year ahead and continued to show his importance to the side both on and off the field with 19 games.

After a strong first month of the season, Packer succumb to a foot injury that would unfortunately rule the prop out for the remainder of the season following surgery — limiting him to just six games in 2019. He would continue to work tirelessly off the field in that time, however, claiming the NRL Male Academic Player of the Year Award for his work in completing a Masters of Business Administration.

Packer is signed through at Wests Tigers until the end of the 2021 season.