Naufahu Whyte has been rewarded for his continued growth in the NRL, signing a two-year contract extension with the Sydney Roosters, keeping him at the club until the end of 2026.
The versatile back-rower moved over from New Zealand as a teenager and has made 11 appearances in the top grade since making his debut two years ago, with eight of those games coming this season.
Whyte was also named in the Kiwis squad for the recent Pacific Championships, but failed to feature during the tournament as he edges closer to an international debut.
The 21-year-old joins the likes of Siua Wong, Nat Butcher and Sitili Tupouniua in re-committing to the Roosters, who have moved to shore up their second-row stocks long-term.
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Naufahu Whyte re-signs with Sydney Roosters
In a statement released on Thursday morning, Whyte said he feels comfortable within the organisation and plans to continue his rise at Bondi in the coming years.
“I was a teenager when I moved over from Auckland and Roosters has become my home away from home," he said.
"It’s a blessing to be at this club and I’m keen to keep working hard, learning from Trent and the senior boys and building my career here.”
Whyte has been highly-touted since arriving at the Tricolours and according to the club's head of recruitment, Daniel Anderson, there is high expectations for his future at the club.
“It’s been terrific to watch Fahu’s growth within our squad over the last few years," he said.
"He’s a hard worker and a good person, and his best footy is ahead of him, so it’s great to have him locked into the club’s long-term plans."
Naufahu Whyte 2023 NRL stats
| Games | 8 |
| Offloads | 3 |
| Avg. Run Metres | 90m |
| Avg. Tackles | 20 |
| Tackle Efficiency | 94% |