Name Gavin Whittaker | Role Rugby player | |
Gavin whittaker destroys reciever
Gavin Whittaker (13 January 1970 – 6 January 2017) was an Australian professional rugby league player for the Bulldogs, Gold Coast and the Western Suburbs Magpies. Whittaker joined Canterbury in 1992 as a prop forward.
Born in Pittsworth, Queensland, Whittaker became a regular member of the reserve grade team and in 1993, received the opportunity to play first grade against Penrith as a replacement. He played in the reserve grade Preliminary Semi-Final against Newcastle.
In 1994, Whittaker was a regular member of the reserve grade team but missed the finals due to injury.
In 1995, Whittaker became captain of the reserve grade team and in 1996, Gavin joined Gold Coast to play 31 games from 1996 to 1998.
His son, Shai Whittaker has later played for representative teams from 2007-13; such as the Gold Coast Titans U18's and Queensland U17's.
Whittaker died from stomach cancer on 6 January 2017 at his home in Parkwood, Queensland, a week before his 47th birthday.