Zac Laybutt

Zac Laybutt (born 16 January 2002) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Zac Laybutt
Personal information
Born (2002-01-16) 16 January 2002
Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Height190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
Playing information
PositionCentre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2023– Nth Qld Cowboys 4 3 0 0 12
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2023 Papua New Guinea 1 2 5 0 18
Source: [1]
As of 16 October 2023

Background

Laybutt was born in Bundaberg, Queensland, and is of Papua New Guinean and Indigenous descent.[2][3] He attended Bundaberg State High School and played his junior rugby league for the Western Suburbs Panthers before being signed by the Melbourne Storm.[4][5]

Laybutt's older brother Kyle played two NRL games for the North Queensland Cowboys.[6]

Playing career

In 2018, Laybutt represented the Queensland Murri under-16 team in their 36–26 win over New South Wales Koori.[7][8] In 2019, he joined the Sunshine Coast Falcons, playing for their Mal Meninga Cup team.[9]

In 2021, Laybutt signed for the North Queensland Cowboys, joining their Young Guns squad.[10] That season he played for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Hastings Deering Colts competition, starting at centre in their Grand Final loss to the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.[11]

In 2021, he returned to Cairns, joining the Northern Pride's under-21 side and the North Queensland Cowboys Young Guns squad.[12] In 2022, he played for Townsville in the Colts and Queensland Cup.[13] On 24 September 2022, he captained the Blackhawks in the Colts' Grand Final win over the Redcliffe Dolphins.[14]

2023

Laybutt spent the pre-season training with the Cowboys' NRL squad, coming off the interchange in their pre-season draw with the Dolphins.[15][16] In round 13 of the 2023 NRL season, Laybutt made his first grade debut against the Parramatta Eels.[17][18] In round 26, Laybutt scored two tries for North Queensland in their 34-10 victory over the Dolphins.[19]

References
  1. Rugby League Project
  2. "Laybutt aims to emulate Kumuls brother". The National. 17 February 2022.
  3. "Zac steps out of his brother's shadow". The Courier Mail. 29 November 2017.
  4. "Brothers Kyle and Zac Laybutt in Cowboys trial match". Bundaberg Now. 27 February 2022.
  5. "Laybutt heading into a Storm". NewsMail. 30 June 2018.
  6. "Laybutt to debut for Cowboys". The Courier Mail. 24 May 2023.
  7. "Opportunity knocks for Murri Under 16 players". QRL. 23 February 2018.
  8. "MURRI GREAT START FOR ZAC: Laybutt stars". NewsMail. 8 March 2018.
  9. "2019 Mal Meninga Cup results – Round 6". 18th Man. 14 April 2019.
  10. "Zac Laybutt to play for Cowboys in 2022". The Courier Mail. 24 November 2021.
  11. "U21s Grand Final team list". Townsville Blackhawks. 6 October 2021.
  12. "Hastings Deering Colts TEAMS - 2021 Round 5". League Unlimited. 11 May 2021.
  13. "Cowboys combine for six tries in the Hostplus Cup". NQ Cowboys. 16 August 2022.
  14. "Eleven Cowboys contracted players named for U21s Grand Final". NQ Cowboys. 22 September 2022.
  15. "Get to know our young players ahead of Sunday's trial". NQ Cowboys. 10 February 2023.
  16. "Cowboys final team list: Trial v Dolphins". NQ Cowboys. 12 February 2023.
  17. "Cowboys team list: Round 13 v Eels". NQ Cowboys. 23 May 2023.
  18. "Brown's stunner as Eels unearth hidden gem; star leads Cowboys transformation: Big hits". www.foxsports.com.au.
  19. "Cowboys stun Dolphins in must-win game to keep finals hopes alive". www.foxsports.com.au.
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