Zac Laybutt
{{short description|PNG international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Zac Laybutt
|fullname =
|image =
|image_size =
|position = {{rlp|CE}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2002|1|16}}
|birth_place = Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
|height = {{convert|190|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|94|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|club1 = {{nowrap|Nth Qld Cowboys}}
|year1start = 2023
|year1end = present
|appearances1 = 9
|tries1 = 6
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 24
|teamA = {{nowrap|Papua New Guinea}}
|yearAstart = 2023
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 3
|triesA = 2
|goalsA = 5
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 18
|new = yes
|source = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/zac-laybutt/summary.html Rugby League Project]
|updated = 17 May 2025
| module = {{infobox person
| embed = yes
| father =
| mother =
| spouse =
| education = Bundaberg State High School
| alma_mater =
| relatives = Kyle Laybutt (brother)
}}
}}
Zac Laybutt (born 16 January 2002) is a Papua New Guinea international rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|ce}} for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Background
Laybutt was born in Bundaberg, Queensland, and is of Papua New Guinean and Indigenous descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/laybutt-aims-to-emulate-kumuls-brother/|title=Laybutt aims to emulate Kumuls brother|date=17 February 2022|website=The National}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/bundaberg/sport/zac-steps-out-of-his-brothers-shadow/news-story/39f3f442ed2dda4a09ada8d4333d9c07|title=Zac steps out of his brother's shadow|date=29 November 2017|website=The Courier Mail}} He attended Bundaberg State High School and played his junior rugby league for the Western Suburbs Panthers before being signed by the Melbourne Storm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bundabergnow.com/2022/02/27/brothers-kyle-and-zac-laybutt-in-cowboys-trial-match/|title=Brothers Kyle and Zac Laybutt in Cowboys trial match|date=27 February 2022|website=Bundaberg Now}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/bundaberg/sport/laybutt-heading-into-a-storm/news-story/1e19acc5d139e5c786117210dbfd92a2|title=Laybutt heading into a Storm|date=30 June 2018|website=NewsMail}}
Laybutt's older brother Kyle played two NRL games for the North Queensland Cowboys.{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/bundaberg/zac-laybutt-to-debut-for-cowboys-against-paramatta-eels/news-story/cd4d38e0f32a4807ed599ded0e0bd425|title=Laybutt to debut for Cowboys|date=24 May 2023|website=The Courier Mail}}
Playing career
In 2018, Laybutt represented the Queensland Murri under-16 team in their 36–26 win over New South Wales Koori.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/20182/02/23/murri-under-16-team-provides-opportunity-for-players/|title=Opportunity knocks for Murri Under 16 players|date=23 February 2018|website=QRL}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/bundaberg/sport/murri-great-start-for-zac-laybutt-stars/news-story/f1e75371fead4fefc8b151568d110bd3|title=MURRI GREAT START FOR ZAC: Laybutt stars|date=8 March 2018|website=NewsMail}} In 2019, he joined the Sunshine Coast Falcons, playing for their Mal Meninga Cup team.{{Cite web|url=https://18thman.com/2019/04/14/2019-mal-meninga-cup-results-round-6/|title=2019 Mal Meninga Cup results – Round 6|date=14 April 2019|website=18th Man}}
In 2021, Laybutt signed for the North Queensland Cowboys, joining their Young Guns squad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/bundaberg/zac-laybutt-to-play-for-cowboys-in-2022/news-story/31fff88ff9f0b36cf51d21ff524b4345|title=Zac Laybutt to play for Cowboys in 2022|date=24 November 2021|website=The Courier Mail}} That season he played for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Hastings Deering Colts competition, starting at {{rlp|ce}} in their Grand Final loss to the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.{{Cite web|url=https://blackhawkstsv.com.au/2021/10/06/gf-teams-list/|title=U21s Grand Final team list|date=6 October 2021|website=Townsville Blackhawks}}
In 2021, he returned to Cairns, joining the Northern Pride's under-21 side and the North Queensland Cowboys Young Guns squad.{{Cite web|url=https://leagueunlimited.com/news/leagueunlimited-colts-teams-2021-round-5/|title=Hastings Deering Colts TEAMS - 2021 Round 5|date=11 May 2021|website=League Unlimited}} In 2022, he played for Townsville in the Colts and Queensland Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2022/08/16/cowboys-combine-for-six-tries-in-hostplus-cup/|title=Cowboys combine for six tries in the Hostplus Cup|date=16 August 2022|website=NQ Cowboys}} On 24 September 2022, he captained the Blackhawks in the Colts' Grand Final win over the Redcliffe Dolphins.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2022/09/22/eleven-cowboys-contracted-players-named-for-u21s-grand-final/|title=Eleven Cowboys contracted players named for U21s Grand Final|date=22 September 2022|website=NQ Cowboys}}
=2023=
Laybutt spent the pre-season training with the Cowboys' NRL squad, coming off the interchange in their pre-season draw with the Dolphins.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2023/02/10/get-to-know-our-young-players-ahead-of-sundays-trial/|title=Get to know our young players ahead of Sunday's trial|date=10 February 2023|website=NQ Cowboys}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2023/02/12/cowboys-final-team-list-trial-v-dolphins2-cairns/|title=Cowboys final team list: Trial v Dolphins|date=12 February 2023|website=NQ Cowboys}}
In round 13 of the 2023 NRL season, Laybutt made his first grade debut against the Parramatta Eels.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2023/05/23/cowboys-team-list-round-13-v-derby-laybutt-debut/|title=Cowboys team list: Round 13 v Eels|date=23 May 2023|website=NQ Cowboys}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-news-2023-parramatta-eels-vs-north-queensland-cowboys-live-stream-updates-supercoach-scores-mitchell-moses/news-story/b6e6fb447bc652d447e6529a2758213a/|title=Brown's stunner as Eels unearth hidden gem; star leads Cowboys transformation: Big hits|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=26 May 2023 }}
In round 26, Laybutt scored two tries for North Queensland in their 34-10 victory over the Dolphins.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-dolphins-vs-north-queensland-cowboys-live-updates-stats-supercoach-scores-video-hamiso-tabuaifidow/news-story/6f6e4807bc668fe56de8f302f6fb1a57/|title=Cowboys stun Dolphins in must-win game to keep finals hopes alive|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=25 August 2023 }} He was selected to play for the PNG Kumuls alongside his older brother Kyle Laybutt (captain) and won the Pacific (Bowl) championship in PNG against the Fiji Batis 32-12.
=2024=
In round 1 of the 2024 NRL season, Laybutt scored two tries for North Queensland in their 43-18 victory over the Dolphins.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-news-2024-dolphins-vs-north-queensland-cowboys-live-stream-score-stats-video-herbie-farnworth-tom-flegler/news-story/ea6642e38b44ad319ac43ca8a5072584/|title=Laybutt stars in Cowboys rout to go top of table; Dolphins implode despite recruits: What we learned|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}
On 9 April, it was announced that Laybutt would miss the rest of the 2024 NRL season after suffering an ACL injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/04/09/nrl-team-lists-round-6/|title=NRL Team Lists: Round 6|website=www.nrl.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.cowboys.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/north-queensland-cowboys/zac-laybutt/ North Queensland Cowboys profile]
{{North Queensland Cowboys squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laybutt, Zac}}
Category:Australian people of Papua New Guinean descent
Category:Indigenous Australian rugby league players
Category:21st-century Indigenous Australian people
Category:North Queensland Cowboys players
Category:Papua New Guinea national rugby league team players
Category:Rugby league players from Bundaberg
Category:Townsville Blackhawks players
Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen
{{PapuaNewGuinea-rugbyleague-bio-stub}}