Richard Whiting (rugby league)
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Born | Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England | 20 December 1984|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 15 st 10 lb (100 kg)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Second-row, Centre, Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Richard Whiting (born 20 December 1984), also known by the nickname "Superman",[5] is an English former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Toronto Wolfpack (Heritage № 12) in the Championship. Able to play in a variety of positions, he was considered a utility player.[3]
Previously playing in the Championship for the Featherstone Rovers (Heritage № 836) and the Leigh Centurions, he spent most of his professional career in the Super League with Hull FC (Heritage № 1019), with whom he won the 2005 Challenge Cup, and was named Super League's Young Player of the Year in 2005.
Early life
[edit]Whiting was born in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England, and he was a promising association football player as a youngster and was signed to a scholarship with Barnsley as a 16-year-old before deciding to pursue a career in rugby league.[5]
Playing career
[edit]Featherstone Rovers
[edit]Whiting began his career with Featherstone Rovers in National League One, being named the league's Young Player of the Year in 2003,[citation needed] before moving to Super League club Hull.
Hull FC
[edit]Whiting joined Hull in November 2003 for an undisclosed fee.[6] In 2005 he made 24 appearances during the season and also won the league's Young Player of the Year.[citation needed] Whiting played for Hull at centre in the 2005 Challenge Cup final, scoring a try in the victory over Leeds. Hull reached the 2006 Super League Grand final against St. Helens, and Whiting played from the substitutes' bench in his side's 4–26 loss.[7]
Whiting also represented England in three matches between 2004 and 2006.[4]
Whiting continued to be a regular in the Hull FC team, filling in a multitude of roles and positions and earning a reputation as one of the most reliable players in the league.[8] In 2014, he was awarded a testimonial to mark 10 years with the club.[5]
Leigh
[edit]In 2016, Richard moved to Leigh on a 2-month loan after falling down the pecking order. He made his début for Leigh in the 24–20 win over London Broncos. In April 2016 Whiting signed for Leigh on a permanent basis, ending his 12-year stint at Hull.[9]
Toronto
[edit]Whiting joined the Toronto Wolfpack ahead of their inaugural season.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Hull 1st Team Richard Whiting". Hull FC. 2015. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- ^ "Player Summary: Richard Whiting". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b c Hull FC's gentle giant Richard Whiting on ten grand years as a reluctant Superman
- ^ "Senior says Wing must be feared". The Independent. 6 November 2003. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ "St Helens 26-4 Hull FC". BBC News. 14 October 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ Hull FC coach praises 'Mr Reliable' Richard Whiting
- ^ "Hull FC's Richard Whiting signs permanent deal at Leigh". Yorkshire Evening Post. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2023.