Brent Tate

Brent Tate's Biography

One of the most resilient players the game has ever seen, Brent Tate has overcome multiple injuries and forged an inspirational career in Rugby League. He has played for the Brisbane Broncos, NZ Warriors, and the North Queensland Cowboys Clubs while displaying true grit and determination throughout his career. Brent has represented the country 26 times for the Australian Kangaroos and played for his state in 23 State of Origin Games.

Over his sporting career, Brent has faced adversity and major setbacks, including 20 operations and countless injuries, putting his body, heart, and soul on the line for every game.  Recruited by the Brisbane Broncos in 2001, he quickly earned a reputation as a player to watch. In 2002, Brent played his first State of Origin and received the Broncos "Rookie of the Year" award. 

In 2003, Brent sustained a potentially career-ending neck injury only two years into his first-grade career.  Against all odds, he was able to continue playing thanks to a special neck brace and excelled as a rugby league icon over an incredible 13-year professional career.

Brent was named the man of the match in the 2006 State of Origin in Game I and cemented his status as a Queensland Origin Legend despite suffering multiple injuries.

In 2008, Brent left the Broncos to join the Warriors and later joined the Cowboys in 2011.

Despite sustaining multiple injuries, including a season-ending knee injury during State of Origin Game III in 2007 and the third knee reconstruction of his career due to an ACL injury during the 2010 Four Nations final, Brent proved his mettle and excelled at the club, state and national levels. However, after another ACL injury in 2014, he retired following medical advice, leaving the game as a legend, inspiration, and perfect personification of what it means to wear the maroon jersey.

During his career Brent played 229 NRL games, including 23 State of Origin appearances and 26 Test caps.

Following his retirement from Rugby League, Brent now works as a Business Development Manager at the North Queensland Cowboys, using the same tenacity and drive he displayed on the field. In addition, he is heavily involved in his Townsville community, along with local and national charities.

As a speaker, Brent has speaking engagements and media commitments all across Australia. He is also an official Mentor to the QRL, guiding Queensland's rising talent involved in Emerging Origin Squads and Queensland under-age teams.

Brent has had numerous ambassadorial roles with Intrust Super and Westfund and has worked as a commentator for Fox Sports since 2015.

Brent Tate’s autobiography, Iron Will, was published in July 2015 and reveals the real story behind his leaving the Broncos, his honest ratings of the players he played with and against, and how he really felt the moment he knew his career was over.

Brent Tate’s commitment and ability to overcome adversity has never been in question and he is regarded as one of the toughest players the NRL has ever seen. In fact, in 2013 The Daily Telegraph described him as “rugby league’s most inspirational player” while Mal Meninga more recently described him as “one of the toughest and most inspiring players to have ever played rugby league”.

Speaking Topics Include

Iron Will – Tate’s inspirational playing career including his Test Caps, Origin, Bronco’s Warriors and Cowboys