Kade Snowden is a retired player most recently playing for Newcastle Knights.
Kade Snowden (born 31 December 1986) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer of Italian descent currently playing for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. He primarily plays at prop but started his first-grade career as a second-rower. 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 Country Origin and New South Wales State of Origin sides.
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 and the Australian school boys side. So good was his form during that season that other clubs were already taking an interest in his services with Sydney Roosters coach Ricky Stuart trying to sign him. The following season he captained the S.G. Ball side to premiership success with a 42-16 win over South Sydney and again represented the Australian school boys side.
Snowden made his first-grade debut after coming off the bench for the Newcastle Knights on 13 March 2005 in the opening round clash against the Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park. 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. Despite signing a new two-year contract at the club in 2006 he failed to make a single appearance that year. He did, however, captain the Jersey Flegg side to the Grand Final although they came up just short after losing 22-20 to the Penrith Panthers. He made another eight appearances in 2007 but was not wanted by new coach Brian Smith and was allowed to leave the club.
Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart signed Snowden for the 2008 season as he had been an admirer ever since he had tried to sign the prop as a junior in 2003. Still with a suspension arising from a headbutting charge to serve from his time at the Knights, he made his debut for the club on 10 May in round 9 against the North Queensland Cowboys at Dairy Farmers Stadium. His first ever try came in the final round of the season as he came off the bench against North Queensland to help his side to a 28-22 win.
