Zac Laybutt

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Zac Laybutt
Personal information
Born (2002-01-16) 16 January 2002 (age 24)
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 22 9 5 0 44
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2023–25 Papua New Guinea 5 3 6 0 24
Source: [1]
As of 2 November 2025
EducationBundaberg State High School
RelativesKyle Laybutt (brother)

Zac Laybutt (born 16 January 2002) is a Papua New Guinea international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League.

Background

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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

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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]

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.

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]

On 4 June, North Queensland announced that Laybutt had re-signed with the team until the end of the 2027 season.[22] Laybutt played 14 games for North Queensland in the 2025 NRL season as the club finished 12th on the table.[23]

Statistics

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Year Team Games Tries Goals Pts
2023 North Queensland Cowboys 4 3 12
2024 4 3 12
2025 14 3 5 22
2026
Totals 22 9 5 44

References

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  1. ^ Rugby League Project
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