Kade Snowden

Kade Snowden (born 31 December 1986) is a former professional rugby league footballer of the Biddabah nation, who played as a in the 2000s and 2010s.

He began his career at the Newcastle Knights and made his first grade debut in 2005 in the opening round against the Melbourne Storm. He then signed with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2008 and cemented a spot as a regular starter for the side. In 2010 he was rewarded with representative call ups to the NSW Country Origin and New South Wales State of Origin sides. Kade also represented his Indigenous culture through the Newcastle All Blacks in the 2022 Koori Knockout.

Background Snowden was born in Belmont, New South Wales, Australia. He is of Italian and Indigenous descent.

Newcastle Knights Snowden joined the Newcastle Knights in 2002 at the age of 15 and in his first year went on to win the Coaches Scholarship. The following year he won the Carlson Club Award as well as the SG Ball Players Player and Player of the Year awards. He was also rewarded that season with a call up to represent the NSW Combined High School Opens team, New South Wales at under-17 level He made his first start for the club three rounds later against the North Queensland Cowboys and went on to make another three appearances during the season as Newcastle finished last on the table. Despite signing a new two-year contract at the club in 2006 he failed to make a single appearance that year. He scored a try in round 15 in the 46–12 win against an under-strength Brisbane side. He also scored a try in the final round of the season against South Sydney in the 26–24 loss.

In a trial match against Manly before the 2010 NRL season, Snowden was sin binned for punching Jason King. In round 7 he scored a try in a 26–6 win against his former club Newcastle in a man of the match performance. He was rewarded for his fine form with a call up to the Country Origin side for the annual City vs Country Origin match. There were calls from coach Ricky Stuart and Queensland legend Arthur Beetson to pick Snowden for the New South Wales State of Origin side in the last match of the series which they had already lost for a fifth consecutive year. There were initial concerns over his eligibility after being placed on report by Tony Archer and later being charged by the judiciary with dangerous contact for a late hit on Jamie Soward in the 22–4 loss against St. George-Illawarra. However, with an early guilty plea Snowden was only suspended for the round 16 clash against North Queensland. However, this meant he missed his last chance to impress selectors before the side was named. Despite missing the North Queensland game, Snowden was picked for the last match and started the game as a . New South Wales lost the match 23–18, and henceforth the series 3–0, for the first time since 2000. In round 20 Snowden scored the first away try of his career in a 20–13 loss against Canberra. and put in a good performance capping the performance with a try.

Return to the Knights Snowden has agreed to a four-year deal with the Knights from the beginning of the 2012 season after controversially reneging on a new deal with the Sharks. Snowden had verbally agreed to re-sign with the Cronulla club but back-flipped after receiving a phone call from the new owner of the Newcastle Knights, Nathan Tinkler, whilst en route to a press conference announcing his re-signing. On 22 August 2014, Snowden became one of the current NRL players and former Sharks players to accept reduced bans from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority for his role in the club's 2011 supplements program.

On 3 May 2015, Snowden played for New South Wales Country against New South Wales City in the 2015 City vs Country Origin. Snowden played 21 games for Newcastle in the 2015 NRL season as the club finished last on the table for the first time since 2005.

In August 2016, Snowden announced his retirement from rugby league due to chronic injuries that had limited him to just one game in the 2016 season. Newcastle would finish last on the table for a second consecutive season only managing to win one match.

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