[2] In 2007 he was named in the New Zealand Rugby League's Team of the Century.

Baxter, an Auckland representative, first made the New Zealand national rugby league team in 1949.

In 1955 he was made captain and led the Kiwis out on ten occasions, including on the 1955–56 tour of Great Britain and France.

[3] In 1959 he was Western Districts (a combination of Mount Albert and Point Chevalier) player-coach and led the team to Auckland Rugby League Fox Memorial Trophy and Rukutai Shield victories as well as winning a national tournament held to celebrate the ARL's fiftieth anniversary and an 8–7 victory over the New South Wales Rugby League's previously unbeaten champion St. George Dragons side.

In 2007 he was named in the New Zealand Rugby League Team of the Century at centre.