Up-and-coming Roosters forward Naufahu Whyte has been locked in on a two-year extension that will keep him in the red, white and blue until the end of 2026.

The 21-year-old was a teenager when he first made the move from New Zealand to join the Roosters and has moved up the ranks since.

“The Roosters has become my home away from home,” Whyte said.

“It’s a blessing to be at this club and I’m keen to keep working hard, learning from Trent and the senior boys and building my career here.”

He made his NRL debut in 2021 and now has a total of 11 first grade appearances — eight of those this year, including two starts.

When Whyte wasn’t playing NRL, he was a force to be reckoned with in New South Wales Cup this year, scoring three tries in 11 games as well as averaging 212 running metres and 29 tackles per game.

His form was rewarded with selection in the New Zealand squad for the Pacific Championships.

“It’s been terrific to watch Fahu’s growth within our squad over the last few years,” Roosters recruitment boss Daniel Anderson said.

“He’s a hard worker and a good person, and his best footy is ahead of him, so it’s great to have him locked into the club’s long-term plans.”