League: Whare loving switch from rugby

IN FORM: Rotorua's Dean Whare has been in top form for the Penrith Panthers this season. Here he is playing against the Sharks earlier this year. PHOTO/MARK NOLAN, GETTY IMAGES 080814WHARE

Panthers' league star still enjoys trips home to NZ whanau

If you had asked Dean Whare at primary school what his favourite NRL club was, he would have probably looked at you sideways.

Whare grew up in Ngongotaha and played union as a child, before moving to Sydney aged 10 to live with his aunty and uncle.

"I played rugby when I was young but did not know what league was until I came to Oz."

Of course, the league-crazy city turned his interest, and he started playing the sport in his early teens.

"I was just living in Sydney and a lot of mates were playing league, and I just wanted to be part of the crowd," he said. "I went to a sports high school and the pathway was a lot easier [to progress up the grades]. I played Toyota Cup straight out of high school and eventually signed with Manly."

After three years at Manly - where he holds a record for most tries on debut for the club (three against the Cowboys in 2010) - he was signed by the Penrith Panthers for the 2013 season.

The 24-year-old has since become a regular first-grader and has become a force at centre.

He is playing some of the best league of his life and is a big part of the Panthers' success this year, with the club sitting third on the NRL ladder.

He also featured in the Kiwis' charge to the 2013 Rugby League World Cup final late last year.

Whare said he was really enjoying his football in Penrith, where he lives with his partner and young child, and he was working hard on his consistency.

Despite leaving Rotorua at a young age, Whare said he still had a lot of extended family here and he returned whenever he could.

"When we played the Warriors earlier this year I had two busloads come up [to watch], one from Napier and one from Rotorua," he said with a laugh. "I try to come back once a year and come down when I play in New Zealand."

Local ta moko artist Richard Francis is one of Whare's relatives living in Rotorua. Francis did a lot of the ink work on Whare's arm, which helps him standout on the league field.

"He is an awesome moko artist. I'll hopefully get more next time I am back," Whare said.

Asked about what was behind the Panthers' turnaround this year, Whare said three main things - a good turnover of players, more consistency, and a good leadership group.

In his spare time, Whare admitted, there was not a great deal of things to do in Penrith, on the outskirts of Sydney. However, he said about five or six players at the club would regularly go out for a bash on the golf course. Whare, who plays off an 18 handicap, said the best player at the club was Brent Kite, who played off a 10 or 12 handicap.

There are five rounds left before the NRL playoffs. Whare and the Panthers will play the Dragons tomorrow in a high-stakes match for St George Illawarra. If the Panthers win they will almost be guaranteed a spot in the playoffs.