Brent Naden

Brent Naden (born 30 December 1995) is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a wing and centre for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.

Naden was born in Wellington, New South Wales, and is of Indigenous Australian descent - from Wiradjuri people. He was educated at Wellington High School.

He played his junior rugby league for the Wellington Cowboys, before being signed by the Penrith Panthers.

Naden is a cousin of former fugitive from the law Malcolm Naden.

Early years

From 2014 to 2015, Naden played for the Penrith Panthers' NRL Under-20s team, captaining the side to a premiership and being named on the interchange bench in the NYC Team of the Year in 2015. In 2016, he graduated to their Intrust Super Premiership NSW team. In 2017, he joined the Canberra Raiders but failed to make an NRL appearance, only appearing in their ISP NSW team Mount Pritchard Mounties. In 2018, he joined the Newcastle Knights on a 1-year contract, but again failed to make an NRL appearance.

2019

In 2019, Naden rejoined the Panthers. In round 12 of the 2019 NRL season, Naden made his NRL debut for the Panthers against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

In round 15 against the New Zealand Warriors, Naden scored 2 tries, one of which was an 80 metre effort as he beat several New Zealand players to reach the try line. Penrith would go on to win the match in extra time 19-18.

In Round 18 against St George, Naden scored two tries as Penrith won the match 40-18 at Penrith Stadium.