Brett White (born 8 April, 1982 in Jindabyne, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative prop forward, he has played his whole career to date at the Storm, with whom he won the 2007 and 2009 premierships.

[edit] Playing career

Growing up in the NSW high country in Berridale, White started his rugby league career with the Cooma Colts. He was a promising junior and was graded by St. George Illawarra Dragons from school. White was a key member of the Dragon's Jersey Flegg Cup team but leg and ankle injuries halted his progress in 2003 and 2004. With props such as Luke Bailey and Jason Ryles ahead of him, White was unable to make his way into first-grade and he relocated to the Melbourne Storm.

White made his first-grade debut in Round one, 2005, scoring a try against the Newcastle Knights at Olympic Park. At the end of the season he was named the Storm's Rookie of the Year after becoming Robbie Kearns' starting front-row partner.^[1] He was a member of the Melbourne Storm team to face the Brisbane Broncos in the 2006 grand final, losing 15–8. The next year he was a member of the winning grand final against Manly.

In round two, 2008, White was sent off for retaliating to a Ben Ross elbow to team-mate Cooper Cronk which also saw Ross sent off. Cronk's kick found Israel Folau who scored the match-levelling try. He was given a four match ban.^{[citation needed]}

White played in the 2008 NRL Grand Final defeat to the Manly.^[2]

He played in the 2009 premiership against Parramatta. ^[3]

[edit] Representative career

In 2006, White made his representative debut in the Country Origin team, defeating City by 12–10.

White was selected to represent New South Wales as a front-rower for game I and on the bench for game II of the 2007 State of Origin series. Game 3 of the 2009 series also saw White return to State of Origin, playing a leading role in the controversial NSW victory. In the closing stages of the contest White was involved in a scuffle with Queensland prop Steve Price which left Price unconscious. Later that month fellow former NSW reb John Hopoate said while being interviewed "White if your going to knock Pricey out I will knock you out". White refused an offer to fight hopoate in a boxing match.

In 2008, White made himself available for Ireland's 2008 Rugby League World Cup campaign and in August he was named in the Ireland training squad.^[4][5][6] Although White was named in the Irish squad, he was forced to withdraw following the NRL grand final, when he was scheduled for foot surgery.^[7][8]

White was also named in the 46-man Australian preliminary squad for the World Cup.^[9]

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] External links

• Melbourne Storm profile