Josh Starling
A durable and tough front-row forward who carved out a solid NRL career through relentless effort across three clubs.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Australian rugby league footballer·Birthday: May 18·Millennials
Biography
Josh Starling's rugby league story is one of persistence. Not a flashy superstar, he was the kind of player coaches value: a prop who could make the hard yards, tackle tirelessly, and do the unglamorous work in the engine room. His journey took him through the systems of South Sydney, Manly-Warringah, and Newcastle in the NRL. At each stop, he earned his place through sheer physical commitment, appearing in over 100 first-grade games. His career peaked with a Grand Final appearance for Manly in 2013, experiencing the intense pressure of rugby league's biggest stage. After his playing days, Starling transitioned into coaching, bringing his understanding of the forward's craft to a new generation. He represents the backbone of the professional league—players whose names may not dominate headlines but whose contributions are essential to every team's weekly grind.
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.
Josh 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 Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Josh'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
- Played over 100 NRL games across stints with the Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, and Knights.
- Appeared in the 2013 NRL Grand Final as a member of the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
- Represented the NSW Under-17s and Under-19s teams earlier in his career.
Did You Know?
He made his NRL debut for the South Sydney Rabbitohs against his future club, the Manly Sea Eagles, in 2011.
After retiring, he moved into coaching, working with the Newcastle Knights' junior pathways.
He played his junior rugby league for the Cabramatta Two Blues.
“I just put my head down and do the work in the middle.”
