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 (age 23) Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Height	190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
Playing information
Position	Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2023– Nth Qld Cowboys 8 6 0 0 24 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2023 Papua New Guinea 3 2 5 0 18
Source: [1] As of 7 April 2024
Education	Bundaberg State High School
Relatives	Kyle Laybutt (brother)

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] 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.^[20] On 9 April, it was announced that Laybutt would miss the rest of the 2024 NRL season after suffering an ACL injury.^[21]