Elliott Whitehead
Personal information
Full nameElliott James Whitehead
Born (1989-09-04) 4 September 1989
Bradford, England
Height189 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight105 kg (16 st 7 lb)[1]
Playing information
PositionSecond-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2009–13 Bradford Bulls 109 39 0 0 156
2013–15 Catalans Dragons 68 32 0 0 128
2016– Canberra Raiders 189 39 0 0 156
Total 366 110 0 0 440
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2014–22 England 24 12 0 0 48
2019 Great Britain 4 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3]
As of 10 September 2023

Elliott Whitehead (born 4 September 1989) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League (NRL), and England and Great Britain at international level.

He previously played for the Bradford Bulls and the Catalans Dragons in the Super League.

Background

Whitehead was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.

Club career

Bradford

Whitehead played junior rugby league for West Bowling before being signed by his hometown professional club Bradford Bulls in 2005.[4]

Whitehead made his Super League début in June 2009 against Wakefield Trinity, and went on to make seven appearances in the final ten games of the season.[5] He scored his first try for Bradford in July 2009 against Crusaders, and was rewarded with an improved contract with the club.[6]

Whitehead playing for the Bradford Bulls in 2010

In the 2010 season, Whitehead featured in 26 consecutive games from Round 2 (St. Helens) to Round 27 (Wigan). He also played in the Challenge Cup games against Dewsbury, Leigh and Warrington. Whitehead scored against Castleford (2 tries), Hull Kingston Rovers (1 try), Leeds (1 try), Crusaders (1 try), Harlequins RL (1 try), Salford (1 try), Wakefield Trinity (1 try) and Dewsbury (1 try).

In the 2011 season, Whitehead featured in 24 consecutive games from Round 1 (Leeds) to Round 24 (Hull Kingston Rovers). He has also featured in the Challenge Cup games against Halifax and Wigan. He scored tries against Leeds (3 tries), Wigan (2 tries), Warrington (1 try), Harlequins RL (1 try) and Halifax (1 try). In August 2011, Whitehead received a five-game suspension after being charged with biting Hull Kingston Rovers forward Jordan Cox.[7]

In the 2012 season, Whitehead missed Round 1 due to suspension. Whitehead featured in 26 consecutive games from Round 2 (Castleford) to Round 27 (Catalans Dragons). He also featured in the Challenge Cup against Doncaster and Warrington. Whitehead scored tries against Wakefield Trinity (4 tries), St. Helens (1 try), Salford (1 try), Doncaster (3 tries), Leeds (2 tries), Wigan (1 try), London Broncos (1 try), Warrington (1 try) and Hull Kingston Rovers (1 try). In March 2012, Whitehead signed a new five-year contract with the club.[8]

In the 2013 season, Whitehead featured in 17 consecutive games from Round 1 (Wakefield Trinity) to Round 17 (Hull Kingston Rovers). Whitehead featured in the Challenge Cup against Rochdale Hornets and London Broncos. Elliott scored against Widnes (1 try), London Broncos (2 tries) and Rochdale Hornets (3 tries). In June 2013, Whitehead handed in a transfer request, and was placed on indefinite leave by head coach Francis Cummins.[4] After turning down an offer from Salford, he was signed by Catalans Dragons for an undisclosed fee.[9]

Catalans Dragons

Whitehead signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Catalans, and he made his début for the club in July 2013 against London Broncos.[10] He played eight games for the club during the season, and featured in the playoffs against Hull FC. He scored his first try for the club against Salford.

Whitehead playing for Catalans in 2014

In the 2014 season, Whitehead featured in Round 1 (Hull F.C.) to Round 6 (Huddersfield). Elliot featured in Round 8 (Widnes) to Round 10 (Hull Kingston Rovers) and then in Round 13 (London Broncos) to Round 25 (London Broncos). Elliott next played in Round 27 (Castleford). He played in the Elimination Playoff (Leeds). Whitehead also featured in Round 5 (Bradford Bulls) of the Challenge Cup. He scored against Hull F.C. (1 try), Wakefield Trinity (5 tries), Huddersfield (1 try), Widnes (3 tries), Hull Kingston Rovers (2 tries), London Broncos (2 tries), Bradford Bulls (2 tries), Wigan (1 try) and Castleford (1 try).

In the 2015 season, Whitehead featured in Round 1 (St. Helens) to Super Eight 7 (Hull F.C.). Elliott played in the Challenge Cup in Round 6 (Featherstone Rovers) and the Quarter Final (Hull Kingston Rovers). He scored against Castleford (1 try), Salford (1 try), Leeds (3 tries), Wakefield Trinity (1 try), Hull Kingston Rovers (2 tries), Warrington (1 try), Widnes (2 tries) and Hull F.C. (1 try).

Canberra Raiders

On 8 April 2015, Whitehead signed a two-year contract with National Rugby League side Canberra Raiders starting in 2016. He made his début against Penrith Panthers, and went on to play 27 games and score 6 tries in his first season in the NRL.

In August 2016, he was given a contract extension until the end of 2018. Whitehead credits his ability to adapt to the Australian style of play on personal fitness guru Chris Anderson. [11]

At the end of the 2017 season, Whitehead extended his contract with Canberra until the end of the 2020 season.[12]

Whitehead made 27 appearances for Canberra in the 2019 NRL season as the club qualified for their first grand final in 25 years.

Whitehead playing for Canberra in 2019

Whitehead played in the 2019 NRL Grand Final at second-row as they were defeated 14-8 by the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium.[13][14][15]

Whitehead played 22 games for Canberra in the 2020 NRL season as the club fell one game short of another grand final appearance.[16]

Whitehead played 21 games for Canberra in the 2021 NRL season which saw the club finish 10th on the table.[17][18]

Whitehead played a total of 22 games for Canberra in the 2022 NRL season as the club finished 8th on the table and qualified for the finals. Whitehead played in both finals matches as Canberra were eliminated in the second week by Parramatta.[19]

Whitehead played a total of 23 matches for Canberra in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 8th on the table and qualified for the finals. Whitehead played in the clubs elimination finals loss against Newcastle.[20]

International career

In 2014, Whitehead was selected in England's 2014 Four Nations squad. He was selected in the 3rd game against New Zealand.

In 2015, Whitehead was selected in the England team again for the end-of-year test series against New Zealand. Before the series, Whitehead was part of the England team that took on France in a test match held in Leigh.[21]

In 2016, Whitehead was selected in the 24-man England squad for the 2016 Four Nations. Before the tournament began, he featured in a test match against France.

Whitehead warming up for England in 2016

In October 2017 he was selected in the England squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[22]

In 2018 he was selected for England against France at the Leigh Sports Village.[23]

He was selected in England 9s squad for the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.[24]

He was selected in squad for the 2019 Great Britain Lions tour of the Southern Hemisphere.[25] He made his Great Britain test debut in the defeat by Tonga.[26]

In October 2022 Whitehead was named in the England squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[27] On 15 October 2022 he scored two tries for England in their opening match of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup against Samoa as England won the game 60-6.[28]

Statistics

SeasonAppearanceTriesGoalsF/GPoints
Bradford71004
2990036
2680032
28150060
1960024
Catalans Dragons81004
25180072
32120048
Canberra Raiders2760024
2350020
24100040
2730012
2250020
2140016
2230012
2330012
Total36611100440

*denotes season still competing

References

  1. ↑ "Elliott Whitehead". Canberra Raiders. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "Player Summary: Elliott Whitehead". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  3. ↑ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Bradford Bulls: Elliott Whitehead hands in transfer request". BBC Sport. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "New Bulls contract for Whitehead". BBC Sport. 22 August 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  6. ↑ Craven, Dave (22 August 2009). "Whitehead rewarded with new Bulls contract". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "Bradford Bulls' Elliott Whitehead handed five-match ban". BBC Sport. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Elliott Whitehead agrees Bradford Bulls deal extension". BBC Sport. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "Super League: Catalan (sic) Dragons sign Bradford Bulls forward Elliott Whitehead". Sky Sports. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "Whitehead: I thought I'd be at Bradford the rest of my life". Total Rugby League. 6 July 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "Elliott Whitehead signs contract extension with Canberra Raiders". Sky Sports. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  12. ↑ Dutton, Chris (20 October 2017). "Canberra Raiders re-sign England World Cup back-rower Elliott Whitehead". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  13. ↑ "NRL grand final player ratings: Roosters and Raiders hits and misses". SMH.
  14. ↑ "Sydney Roosters beat Canberra Raiders to win NRL Grand Final". BBC.
  15. ↑ "How Ricky Stuart reacted to grand final 'six-again' refereeing shocker". WWOS.
  16. ↑ "Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart storms out of press conference after one question". wwos.nine.com.au.
  17. ↑ "Roosters' 'Mr Fix It' stuns with hat-trick, Sloppy Raiders' final fade out ends season: 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au. 2 September 2021.
  18. ↑ "Tough conversations coming for senior Canberra stars as interest grows in Parramatta young gun Dylan Brown". www.theaustralian.com.au.
  19. ↑ "Eels send ruthless title message, bury finals 'ghosts' in Raiders no-show: 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au.
  20. ↑ "Ricky turned losing a club legend into a winning season. Now for his biggest challenge - Brutal Review". www.foxsports.com.au.
  21. ↑ "England demolish France 84-4 in record win". Skysports.com. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "England rugby league World Cup squad revealed - and James Roby is back in the fold". Mirror. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  23. ↑ "Tom Johnstone marks debut with England hat-trick against France". Guardian. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  24. ↑ "Sam Tomkins eager to lift inaugural World 9s title with England Down Under". Mirror. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  25. ↑ "Zak Hardaker shock inclusion in 24-man Great Britain squad for tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea". Telegraph. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  26. ↑ "Great Britain left bruised at Tonga party". Times. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  27. ↑ Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021
  28. ↑ "Rugby League World Cup: England 60-6 Samoa - Welsby, Young, Watkins, Farnworth score". BBC Sport.
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