Young Prop Praised As A Bailey Clone
Illawarra Mercury
Friday April 18, 2003
A YOUNG front rower cannot get many bigger raps than being compared to international prop Jason Ryles.
St George Illawarra reckon they've got a Ryles clone on the way to the top in the form of Brett White.
The former Cooma junior, who turned 21 earlier this month, stands at 190cm and tips the scales at 106kg.
His athletic build and hard-running style have caused many Dragons officials and players, including NSW prop Luke Bailey, to label White a younger version of Ryles.
White said he was a touch embarrassed by the comparison to the rampaging international.
``They reckon I look like him. It was a pretty big thing to be said that you play like him," he said.
``I try and look up to him and to one day play like him would be a dream."
White hails from Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains and after coming to the Dragons as a schoolboy in 1999, has worked his way through the ranks, graduating from last year's Jersey Flegg grand final team into this season's Premier League squad.
The Dragons opened their Premier League season with an emphatic 60-6 caning of Manly last Sunday and White managed to get his name on the scoresheet with a bull-dozing try.
``I was pretty happy about that (try). I only got one last year so it was a good way to start the season," he said.
``Winning like that was a good way to start our year but this weekend will really show how we are going when we face someone a bit tougher."
The tough opponents awaiting them tomorrow are the Bulldogs, who are laden with former top grade players and are coming off a 44-16 triumph over Newcastle.
White will start tomorrow's game at Belmore Oval on the interchange bench as part of the three-prop rotation with Ryan Tandy and Ashton Sims.
Playing first grade is a goal he would love to achieve in the future but right now White is more concerned about establishing himself in the second-tier competition.
``You look at the front rowers at the club and we've got two of the best (Ryles and Bailey) at the top," he said.
``I'm just worrying about cementing a spot in the Premier League side this year. Anything else would be a bonus."
© 2003 Illawarra Mercury