Charlie Gubb
A hard-nosed New Zealand forward who carved out a solid Super League career with his uncompromising work ethic and physical presence.
Born 1990 (age 36)·New Zealand rugby league footballer·Birthday: May 17·Millennials
Biography
Charlie Gubb's rugby league story is one of grit and determination. Hailing from Wellington, New Zealand, he came through the local system before being spotted by the Sydney Roosters, where he spent two years in their lower grades without cracking the NRL. Undeterred, he returned home to play for the Wellington Orcas, his robust performances earning him a move to the UK with the Wigan Warriors in 2014. Gubb was not a flashy player; his value was in the trenches. A prop or second-rower known for his punishing tackles and relentless carries, he became a fan favorite at Wigan for his whole-hearted effort. After a stint with the Salford Red Devils, he finished his career with the Widnes Vikings in the Super League. While he never earned international honors, Gubb's decade-long professional career was built on a foundation of physicality and a blue-collar attitude that earned him respect on both sides of the world.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Charlie was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Charlie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Charlie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Super League Grand Final with the Wigan Warriors in 2016, coming off the bench in the victory over Warrington.
- Played in the 2017 Super League Grand Final for Wigan, though the team lost to the Leeds Rhinos.
- Made over 100 appearances in the European Super League across spells with Wigan Warriors, Salford Red Devils, and Widnes Vikings.
- Was named in the 2014 NSW Cup Team of the Year while playing for the Newtown Jets, an affiliate of the Sydney Roosters.
Did You Know?
He played rugby union as a fly-half during his school years before switching to rugby league.
Gubb is of Māori descent, with his iwi (tribe) being Ngāti Toa.
Before his professional career, he worked as a scaffolder in New Zealand.
He played for the New Zealand Residents side, a team representing the best domestic players not in the NRL.
“You have to earn the right to play, and that comes from the work you do when no one is watching.”
