'You’re representing the whole state': White ready for Universities clash
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Western Clydesdales forward Todd White and his wife have been performing the ultimate juggle this year, sharing work, study and football between them.
It hasn’t been easy but this Saturday when White (pictured above) dons a Queensland jersey for the first time ever to represent his state in the annual Universities clash against New South Wales, it will make a lot of the hard work worth the effort.
White – who has played Cup football for the last three years with the Ipswich Jets and the Clydesdales – is a carpenter by trade and this year took up a Bachelor of Secondary Education, specialising in manual arts with a minor of health and physical education.
He said he decided to pick up the textbooks after hearing of a shortage of manual arts teachers across the state.
“It’s pretty tough,” White said of his studies.
“It’s foreign to me because I was a tradie for seven years. I completed my trade after school so it was a bit of a culture shock going back into study and hitting the books again.
“The juggle’s also been pretty tough. I have to give credit to my wife because she is working full-time and studying part-time whereas I am working part-time and studying full-time. I’m only working a couple of days a week at the moment.
“She is taking on a big workload for us to get through this as best as we can.”
But in a way, this Saturday will be symbolic of those sacrifices the couple are making.
White said he applied for the Queensland Universities team earlier this year after a few other players who had done it in previous seasons recommended it to him.
He didn’t make the original cut but got a late call-up last week when another front rower fell out of contention - and he's been given the honour of co-captaincy alongside Mackay young gun, Kane Simon.
It will be the first time he has represented Queensland in rugby league and he said it’s an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.
“It really does make it worth it,” White said.
“It’s a great opportunity you take with both hands and it shows that hard work gets repaid.
“It’s really special. The nostalgia around the maroon jersey is huge and to be able to pull on one of your own and represent the people who have come before you as well, you’re representing the whole state.
“It’s a lot bigger than the team.
“It’s obviously a good opportunity to play a high level of footy and represent your state doing it.
“It has that good feel about and a few mates did it in previous years and they highly recommended doing it.”
The Universities clash also comes on a good weekend for Cup and Hastings Deering Colts players, with both competitions enjoying a bye round.
White has been strong for the Clydesdales this year, playing across prop and lock throughout the club’s inaugural season.
A Toowoomba product, White said he had been pleased with his personal form this year and was enjoying being part of the Clydesdales.
The Clydesdales are back
“I’ve worked really hard to be where I am and establish myself in the Cup competition,” White said.
“I’m getting pretty close to my 50-game milestone and I’ve worked really hard to grind and put myself in a position to be there every week.
“You’re always working to improve and get better, which takes a lot of time and hours. The Western Clydesdales weren’t in the competition when I debuted so there was a bit of sacrifice with travel to Ipswich.
“I was doing that three or four times a week and that was tough.
“Joining the Clydesdales, it’s been great because I’ve been able to represent my hometown and I don’t have to travel too far anymore. It’s a good town for rugby league and it loves its rugby league.”
Queensland Universities will take on New South Wales Universities from 11am on Saturday, July 22, at North Sydney Oval.
