Aaron Whittaker
{{Short description|New Zealand international rugby league footballer and referee}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Aaron Whittaker
|fullname = Aaron Mervyn Rutane Whittaker[http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=W&id=648 WHITTAKER, AARON MERVYN RUTANE 1993 - 94 - KIWI #648] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402171235/http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=W&id=648|date=2 April 2012}} nzleague.co.nz
|image =
|caption =
|position = {{rlp|HB|HK}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1968|7|9}}
|birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand
|height = {{convert|163|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|80|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}
|club1 = Halswell (CRL)
|year1start = 19??
|year1end =
|appearances1 =
|tries1 =
|goals1 =
|fieldgoals1 =
|points1 =
|club2 = Riccarton (CRL)
|year2start = 19??
|year2end =
|appearances2 =
|tries2 =
|goals2 =
|fieldgoals2 =
|points2 =
|club3 = Illawarra Steelers
|year3start = 1992
|year3end =
|appearances3 = 2
|tries3 = 0
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 0
|club4 = {{nowrap|Canterbury Cardinals}}
|year4start = 1994
|year4end = 95
|appearances4 = 27
|tries4 = 9
|goals4 = 53
|fieldgoals4 = 9
|points4 = 151
|club5 = Wakefield Trinity
|year5start = 1994
|year5end = 95
|appearances5 =
|tries5 = 7
|goals5 = 13
|fieldgoals5 = 1
|points5 = 55
|club6 = Auckland Warriors
|year6start = 1997
|year6end = 98
|appearances6 = 8
|tries6 = 1
|goals6 = 1
|fieldgoals6 = 1
|points6 = 7
|teamA = Canterbury
|yearAstart = 1990
|yearAend = 99
|appearancesA = 17
|triesA = 13
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 52
|teamB = New Zealand
|yearBstart = 1993
|yearBend = 94
|appearancesB = 3
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
|teamC = South Island
|yearCstart = 2001
|yearCend =
|appearancesC = 1
|triesC = 0
|goalsC = 0
|fieldgoalsC = 0
|pointsC = 0
|updated = 30 December 2008
|new = yes
}}
Aaron Whittaker (born 9 July 1968) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer. A New Zealand international representative halfback, he played club football in Australia, England and New Zealand.
Early years
Whittaker grew up in Christchurch and was a Schoolboy Kiwi in 1983 before becoming part of the dominant Canterbury rugby league side of the early nineties.Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987. The side was coached by Frank Endacott and included future stars such as Whetu Taewa, Quentin Pongia and Brent Stuart.{{Cite news|url=http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-4977-0-0-0&sID=64815&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=6548519|title=Canterbury trampled over Auckland|date=12 September 2008|work=The Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221161923/http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-4977-0-0-0&sID=64815&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=6548519|archive-date=21 February 2018|url-status=live}} In Christchurch he played for two clubs: the Halswell Hornets and the Riccarton Knights.[http://rugbyleaguenz.com/forums.php?P=PostLists&ThreadID=2010&MainID=14 Canterbury Rugby League]{{dead link|date=October 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} Rugby League in New Zealand
His form was impressive enough to land a contract in the NSWRL Premiership, signing with the Illawarra Steelers in 1992. Whittaker played in three games for the club, including a try-scoring effort against the Great Britain touring side, returning to New Zealand at the end of the year.{{cite web |url=https://nzwarriors.com/threads/aaron-whittaker.244/ |title=Aaron Whittaker |website=NZWarriors.com |publisher=NZ Warriors |access-date=4 June 2024}}
In 1993, Whittaker was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team. He went on to play thirteen games for the national side, although only three were test matches. During this time, he trained with Gary Freeman and Daryl Halligan and this allowed him to improve his halfback and goal kicking skills. In 1994, he was part of the Kiwis tour of Papua New Guinea.[https://archive.today/20070804161455/http://www2.hunterlink.net.au/~maajjs/res/nzl1994.htm New Zealand Tour of Australia and PNG 1994] The Vault Between 1990 and 1994, he played in 17 games for Canterbury, scoring thirteen tries.
England
In 1994, he played for the Canterbury Cardinals in the new Lion Red Cup and at the half way stage was the competition's leading points scorer. As a result, he began to attract interest from overseas clubs and agreed to a mid-season transfer, joining Wakefield Trinity. He returned to the Cardinals in the English offseason and played in part of the 1995 Lion Red Cup.Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1995, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1995. p.110
Return to New Zealand
After a spell in England, he returned to New Zealand, signing for the Auckland Warriors. He played nine games for the Warriors in the 1997 and 1998 seasons{{cite web|url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2018/04/13/old-boys-alert-at-mount-smart-stadium-tomorrow/ |title=Old boys alert at Mount Smart Stadium today |website=www.warriors.kiwi |date=13 April 2018 |access-date=29 November 2023}}
After being released by the Warriors, he returned to local football in Canterbury, playing for his old side the Haswell Hornets.[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17354230.html Panthers peaking at right time]{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The Press, 27 July 1998 In 2001, he was involved in the South Island team that played the touring French side.[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/rapers-first-defeat-halts-wigan-march-672618.html Raper's first defeat halts Wigan march] The Independent, 3 June 2001{{Dead link|date=May 2019}}[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7235/is_/ai_n29522591 Teams named for French opener] AAP Sports News, 1 June 2001{{Dead link|date=May 2019}}
Later years
In 2002, he was named the head trainer for the New Zealand 'A' sides tour of France and the United States, a position he retained for the sides 2003 tour of Australia, where he worked under former teammate Terry Hermansson.[https://archive.today/20120910171305/http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=17274 Hermansson gets NZ Appointment] rleague.com, 8 July 2003.[http://www.nzrl.co.nz/page/20021.html 2002 NZ A] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718175759/http://www.nzrl.co.nz/page/20021.html |date=2008-07-18}} NZRL Official Site
He is now involved with the Currumbin Eagles JRL{{Cite web |url=http://www.currumbinjunioreagles.com.au/ |title=Currumbin Eagles JRL |access-date=15 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026175737/http://www.currumbinjunioreagles.com.au/ |archive-date=26 October 2016 |url-status=dead }} as a coach where he has steered numerous teams to finals contention. He also is involved with the Gold Coast Rugby League as a referee.
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whittaker, Aaron}}
Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen
Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen
Category:Canterbury rugby league team players
Category:Halswell Hornets players
Category:Illawarra Steelers players
Category:New Zealand national rugby league team players
Category:New Zealand rugby league players
Category:New Zealand rugby league referees
Category:New Zealand Warriors players
Category:Riccarton Knights players
Category:Rugby league halfbacks
Category:Rugby league players from Christchurch