James Tedesco has thrown his support behind young front-rower Naufahu Whyte, who is set to step up following the departures of several key players. With Jared Waerea-Hargreaves leaving the club after a long stint and Spencer Leniu serving a two-match suspension, Whyte’s role has become crucial. The 22-year-old already has three international appearances for New Zealand under his belt, which has bolstered Tedesco’s faith in his abilities.
Tedesco praised Whyte’s physicality and strength, emphasising, “He’s such a big strong, physical forward. He just needs to play with that confidence because when he is running like that, he’s bloody hard to stop.” Alongside Whyte, De La Salle Va’a and Salesi Foketi are also competing for positions on the bench, as the team prepares for their upcoming matches.
As the season approaches, the coaching staff and teammates alike are keenly aware of the potential that Whyte brings to the field, with hopes that he will rise to the occasion in a challenging situation.