Frederick Joseph Whyatt

Fred Whyatt was a lineout specialist who played for Queensland as a lock and  No. 8. At Brisbane's State High, Whyatt was a champion rower who figured in three wins for High's Head of the River Fours (when the race was rowed in fours) in 1925, 1927 and 1928. Later, he and Wallaby flanker, Jim Clark, teamed up in the Eight for the University of Queensland in the  Australian Intervarsity tournament in Sydney.

Whilst studying at the University, Whyatt played for the University rugby club and, made his debut for Queensland in 1930. He represented the State that year against the touring Lions and partnered Max White in the second row. Despite his size, Whyatt was one of the fastest forwards in the State.

In 1935 in order to accommodate Vay Wilson and Bernie Doneley in the second row, Whyatt moved to No. 8 where he proved a great success against New South Wales and the Maori. When Queensland beat New South Wales 22-11 in the fourth match of the season, The Courier Mail reported: “There was no better forward on the ground than Fred Whyatt. He went into the heavy stuff as though he liked it and, more than that, played a brilliantly heady game.”

In 1931, Queensland's matches against New South Wales in Sydney served as selection trials for the tour of New Zealand. Old Waratahs -Huck Finlay, Keith Storey, Wylie Breckenridge and Jack Ford – retired after playing against the 1930 Lions and there were openings for Queensland youngsters, Fred Whyatt and Frank Reville who were both chosen for the tour, to New Zealand. Whyatt faced stiff competition in the second row, where Max White and  Bruce Judd were his rivals. Although Whyatt played in the opening game, he missed the next six matches as White and Judd were preferred.

In all, Whyatt played just three games out of the ten tour fixtures. Next season, Whyatt missed selection for the State for the only season in his career, while studying at Sydney University. With Max and Bimbo White in South Africa in 1933, Whyatt regained his place in the State side and held it until 1936, playing a total of 14 matches for Queensland.