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Sydney Roosters prop Naufahu Whyte has opened up on the emotion of representing New Zealand as he prepares to play his first NRL game in his hometown.
Whyte was eligible to play for multiple countries, however pledged his allegiance to his birth country and made his Kiwis debut during last year's Pacific Championships.
While the tournament did not go exactly to plan for New Zealand, the prop fulfilled a childhood dream when he wore the black jumper for the first time.
"It came down to playing for Tonga, Samoa or New Zealand but I knew in my heart that New Zealand was always the go for me," Whyte told NRL.com.
"Putting on that black jersey, that's where I'm from, where I grew up and I just wanted to get back to my home and that was in the black jersey so it was a great experience."
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Naufahu Whyte Try
Whyte is preparing to return to Go Media Stadium for the first time since the Kiwis fell to Tonga last November. The 22-year-old grew up in Auckland and Friday's clash with the Warriors at the venue will mark his first NRL game in his hometown.
The prop is determined to replicate his performance in last week's victory over the Panthers, where he ran for 153 metres and broke three tackles in 58 gut-busting minutes.
A son of a construction worker and a nurse, Whyte grew up in a working-class family, his parents sacrificing plenty to help their children chase their dreams.
It's a sacrifice the forward has carried with him since moving to Australia in 2020 and Friday's match is another opportunity to thank them for laying the foundation for his career.
Match: Warriors v Roosters
Round 3 -
home Team
Warriors
10th Position
away Team
Roosters
13th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
"Our upbringing was tough," he said. "I wouldn't say I had the toughest childhood, there's people out there that go through other things, but we did have our challenges.
"My family overcame that adversity and it's what's made me the man I am today. Without that struggle growing up, I wouldn't be here today.
"[Friday] is a big occasion for me. Maybe it's just another game but it's an opportunity that I get to play in front of all my family.
"All my family is in Auckland, we have a few days there so hopefully I get to see them and then put up a big performance on Friday night."
Whyte's path to the NRL hasn't been smooth sailing. His initial move to Australia to join the Roosters SG Ball team in 2020 was abandoned due to COVID, before he later returned to the club on a train and trial contract at the end of the year.
An NRL debut followed in 2021, however he was relegated to NSW Cup for the entirety of the 2022 season.
Looking back, Whyte recognises his attitude was hurting him on and off the field.
"Every athlete goes through a downfall and I had a setback there," he said. "I was complacent of the position I was in and was too comfortable and I'm happy I got my lesson early.
"It's changed my mindset now with the way I play and the way I carry myself around the team and the boys."
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Naufahu Whyte Try
Having received some hard truths from coaches, teammates and his partner, Whyte vowed to turn over a new leaf in 2023 and he hasn't looked back.
The aforementioned New Zealand debut followed in 2024 and he's now a mainstay in the Roosters pack.
The turnaround hasn't gone unnoticed by Whyte's Roosters teammates.
"He's got better and better every year," captain James Tedesco said. "When he came four years ago as a young kid he was really raw. He was obviously talented but he had to work hard.
"Now he's an international front rower and he's leading by example. He's so powerful, if you tried to tackle him he's very hard to tackle. He's not the only one in our front row, these young guys are really powerful athletes and Naufahu led from the front [last Friday] and we needed that, but he's going to keep getting better and better for sure."
The off-season departure of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and recent absence of Victor Radley and Nat Butcher have seen Whyte develop into a leader of an inexperienced forward pack.
Having learnt some hard lessons just a few years ago, the forward is determined to ensure a promising crop of youngsters do not make the same mistakes.
"It's crazy how quick roles can change," Whyte said. "I was a young one being led by Lindsay [Collins], [Radley] and [Angus Crichton], then those boys go down and you're the next man up.
"You feel like you're still the young bloke but that's part of the game and I put it on myself to lead the young boys and do whatever I can to set the tone and lead from the front."
