Desmond Henry White[3] (born 1927) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s.[1][2] A record-breaking goal-kicking fullback,[4] he was named amongst the country's finest players of the 20th century. His total for points scored in all matches (61) for the Kiwis is a record 467 (7 tries and 233 goals). He won championships with Auckland's Ponsonby club and his total of 794 points (391 goals and four tries) is the all-time club record.
White toured Britain with the New Zealand national team in 1951, playing in the first ever televised match of rugby league at Station Road, Swinton against Great Britain and kicking two goals.[6] During the 1951 French rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand, White was selected to play for both Auckland and New Zealand at fullback. He later kicked a world record 11 goals (from 14 attempts) against Australia in 1952 when New Zealand won the Test series in Brisbane. On that tour he set another record by scoring 107 points to become the first Kiwi to top the century in Australia. White kicked 18 goals in the series, equalling the world record.
In 1954, while playing for Auckland against Great Britain, he ruptured his spleen when tackled illegally by Doug Greenall. White underwent surgery and was out of the game for two years, missing the first ever World Cup in 1954.[7]
He scored 132 points in 21 tests, a Kiwi record until overtaken by Matthew Ridge. His total of 467 points in 61 matches in the black and white jersey may never be overtaken now that long tours are a thing of the past. White's record 202 points on the tour of Britain and France in 1951/52 will probably last forever.
Later yearsedit
Following his retirement, White became a coach and led Auckland. He was appointed coach of the New Zealand national team in 1961, only spending one season in the position.[citation needed]
In 2007, White was named at fullback in the New Zealand Rugby League's team of the century of 1907 to 2007.
White also became a successful grocer, owning the New World Papatoetoe supermarket for a number of years.
Referencesedit
^ ab"Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
^ ab"Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
^WHITE, Desmond Henry 1950 - 54, 1956 - Kiwi #323 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machinenzleague.co.nz
^John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. p. 127. ISBN978-1-86969-331-2.
^Smith, Max (1966). Game as you like. Whitcombe and Tombs.
^totalrl.com. "When League was the new TV game (archived)". On this day in history. League Publications Ltd. Archived from the original on 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
^Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN978-1-86969-366-4, p.161.
^(PDF). NZRL. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
^Stacey Jones, Auckland Rugby League Immortal 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machineest1995.co.nz, 21 September 2003
Graham is best in 100 years - article at stuff.co.nz at archive.today (archived 22 February 2013)
November 27, 2023
white, desmond, henry, white, born, 1927, zealand, former, professional, rugby, league, footballer, played, 1940s, 1950s, record, breaking, goal, kicking, fullback, named, amongst, country, finest, players, 20th, century, total, points, scored, matches, kiwis,. Desmond Henry White 3 born 1927 is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s 1 2 A record breaking goal kicking fullback 4 he was named amongst the country s finest players of the 20th century His total for points scored in all matches 61 for the Kiwis is a record 467 7 tries and 233 goals He won championships with Auckland s Ponsonby club and his total of 794 points 391 goals and four tries is the all time club record Des WhitePersonal informationFull nameDesmond Henry WhiteBorn 1927 02 16 16 February 1927 age 96 Playing informationPositionFullbackClubYears Team Pld T G FG P1947 PonsonbyRepresentativeYears Team Pld T G FG P19 Auckland1950 56 New Zealand 21 2 47 0 100Coaching informationRepresentativeYears Team Gms W D L W 19 Auckland1961 New Zealand 2 1 0 1 50Source 1 2 Contents 1 Playing career 2 Later years 3 References 4 External linksPlaying career editWhite played his first senior game with the Auckland Rugby League s Ponsonby club in 1947 5 White toured Britain with the New Zealand national team in 1951 playing in the first ever televised match of rugby league at Station Road Swinton against Great Britain and kicking two goals 6 During the 1951 French rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand White was selected to play for both Auckland and New Zealand at fullback He later kicked a world record 11 goals from 14 attempts against Australia in 1952 when New Zealand won the Test series in Brisbane On that tour he set another record by scoring 107 points to become the first Kiwi to top the century in Australia White kicked 18 goals in the series equalling the world record In 1954 while playing for Auckland against Great Britain he ruptured his spleen when tackled illegally by Doug Greenall White underwent surgery and was out of the game for two years missing the first ever World Cup in 1954 7 He scored 132 points in 21 tests a Kiwi record until overtaken by Matthew Ridge His total of 467 points in 61 matches in the black and white jersey may never be overtaken now that long tours are a thing of the past White s record 202 points on the tour of Britain and France in 1951 52 will probably last forever Later years editFollowing his retirement White became a coach and led Auckland He was appointed coach of the New Zealand national team in 1961 only spending one season in the position citation needed Des White was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 In 1995 he was one of the inaugural inductees of the NZRL s Legends of League 8 He is also an Auckland Rugby League Immortal 9 In 2007 White was named at fullback in the New Zealand Rugby League s team of the century of 1907 to 2007 White also became a successful grocer owning the New World Papatoetoe supermarket for a number of years References edit a b Statistics at rugbyleagueproject org rugbyleagueproject org 31 December 2017 Retrieved 1 January 2018 a b Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject org rugbyleagueproject org 31 December 2017 Retrieved 1 January 2018 WHITE Desmond Henry 1950 54 1956 Kiwi 323 Archived 2011 07 19 at the Wayback Machine nzleague co nz John Coffey Bernie Wood 2008 100 years Maori rugby league 1908 2008 Huia Publishers p 127 ISBN 978 1 86969 331 2 Smith Max 1966 Game as you like Whitcombe and Tombs totalrl com When League was the new TV game archived On this day in history League Publications Ltd Archived from the original on 2007 06 07 Retrieved 2009 07 13 Coffey John and Bernie Wood Auckland 100 years of rugby league 1909 2009 2009 ISBN 978 1 86969 366 4 p 161 New Zealand Rugby League Annual Report 2008 PDF NZRL 2008 Archived from the original PDF on 2009 09 12 Retrieved 2009 07 21 Stacey Jones Auckland Rugby League Immortal Archived 2011 07 24 at the Wayback Machine est1995 co nz 21 September 2003External links editDes White at the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame nbsp 1951 60 at ponsonbyponies com at the Wayback Machine archived 6 October 2008 Graham is best in 100 years article at stuff co nz at archive today archived 22 February 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Des White amp oldid 1185736611, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
