He played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League and his position was prop.

[4] During the 2011 season, he signed a contract with the Brisbane Broncos starting in 2012,[4] but later chose to return to the Rabbitohs instead.

[6] On 7 July, Starling signed a three-year contract with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles starting in 2014.

[7] Later on that month, Starling, whilst playing for the North Sydney Bears in the second-tier New South Wales Cup competition, was selected in the annual New South Wales Residents clash against the Queensland Residents, playing in the curtain-raiser to the State of Origin decider.

[14][15] He left the club at the end of the season after not being offered a new contract beyond 2017,[16][17] before announcing his retirement from the professional level of the game.