Brent Tate

A career defined by overcoming adversity, Brent Tate's never-say-die attitude earned him a reputation as one of the toughest and most inspiring players in rugby league.

He battled through the pain and anguish of 16 potentially career ending injuries, to claim a NRL premiership with the Brisbane Broncos and six State of Origin series victories.

Tate played the majority of his junior football at the Redcliffe Dolphins, and represented Australian Schoolboys, from Clontarf High, in 1999. He was a scholarship holder with South Queensland Crushers, before the club folded in 1997.

He played Colts and first grade with Redcliffe in 1999, and then for Broncos affiliate, Toowoomba Clydesdales in 2000, under coach, Ivan Henjak. In October, 2000, he was selected for the Junior Kangaroos.

Tate made his NRL debut for Brisbane in 2001 against Melbourne Storm, and that same year won a Queensland Cup title when Toowoomba beat his old club, Redcliffe in the grand final.

He enjoyed a breakout season in 2002, making his debut for Queensland in Game III of State of Origin and being chosen as an interchange player for the Australian Kangaroos, in a one-off Test against Great Britain.

After another stellar season, Tate’s world turned upside down when he was told retirement may be the best option, following a series of neck injuries.

The flexibility of his neck left him prone to whiplash and getting burners in an arm and shoulder, something which had plagued him from 2003 to 2005. With the assistance and expertise of Broncos' physio, Rob Godbolt, Tate wore a neck brace, which enabled him to return to the field, and a combination of judicious rest, and the success of the brace, gave him another 10 years in the game.

He played centre in the Broncos' grand final win over Melbourne in 2006. He also made his way back into the representative arena that year, helping Queensland win their first Origin series in four years, a victory he describes as his most satisfying in a Maroon jersey.

I'm really grateful to have had the career I've had and will always cherish the experiences and opportunities.

Brent Tate FOG #134

Then there was the Tri-Nations series triumph that same year, which made up for the disappointment of the loss to the Kiwis in the 2005 final in England.

He signed with New Zealand Warriors in 2008, where he took on a leadership role, and grew to love the Kiwi culture and brotherhood. He spent three years in Auckland, two of those years playing alongside his brother-in-law, Steve Price, who also was a team mate in state and national teams.

Tate finished his club career with North Queensland Cowboys, but played his final game in the Origin arena, in 2014, when he suffered his fourth serious knee injury.

There was an offer to play for the Cowboys, in 2015, but the body had had enough.

He retired having played 229 NRL games, alongside 26 Tests for Australia and 23 Origins for Queensland.