John Buttigieg (rugby league)

John Buttigieg (born 9 January 1977) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A Queensland State of Origin representative prop, he spent his entire club career with the North Queensland Cowboys.

John Buttigieg
Personal information
Born (1977-01-09) 9 January 1977
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight114 kg (17 st 13 lb)
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995–03 North Queensland 101 5 0 0 20
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1999 Aborigines 2 0 0 0 0
2001–02 Queensland 3 1 0 0 4
Source: [1][2]

Background

Born in Townsville, Queensland, Buttigieg is of Indigenous Australian and Maltese descent. He played his junior rugby league for Souths Townsville and attended Pimlico State High School before being signed by the North Queensland Cowboys.

Playing career

In 1994, Buttigieg represented the Queensland under-17 team, starting at prop in a loss to New South Wales.[3] In 1995, he was a member of the Cowboys' youth development squad.[4]

In Round 13 of the 1996 ARL season, Buttigieg made his first grade debut against the Sydney Tigers, starting at prop. He played nine games during his rookie season. In 1999, after just 13 games the previous two seasons, Buttigieg became a regular in the Cowboys starting side, playing 17 games and winning the club's Players' Player award. In Round 6 of the 1999 season, he knocked out Penrith Panthers prop Craig Greenhill at Dairy Farmers Stadium during an off the ball incident.[5] In October 1999, he represented the Arthur Beetson-coached Aborigines side, who defeated Papua New Guinea in a two-game series.

In 2001, Buttigieg made his State of Origin debut for Queensland, scoring a try in a 34–16 win over New South Wales at Lang Park. He missed Game II due to injury, but was recalled for the Game III decider, in which Queensland won the series.[6]

In 2002, Buttiegied played 16 games for the Cowboys and again represented Queensland, playing in Game I of the series. In Round 13 of the 2003 NRL season, he played his 100th first grade game in a 24–28 loss to Penrith. On 25 August 2003, Buttigieg announced his retirement, due to an ongoing knee injury. Buttigiegs' right knee was operating bone on bone due to lack of cartilage, resulting in swelling.[7][8]

Achievements and accolades

Individual

Statistics

ARL/Super Leage/NRL
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
1996 North Queensland 900—00
1997 North Queensland 500—00
1998 North Queensland 900—00
1999 North Queensland 1710—04
2000 North Queensland 2200—00
2001 North Queensland 1540—016
2002 North Queensland 1600—00
2003 North Queensland 800—00
Career totals 101 5 0 – 0 20

State of Origin
† Denotes seasons in which Buttigieg won a State of Origin Series
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2001† Queensland 210—04
2002 Queensland 100—00
Career totals 3 1 0 — 0 4

Post-playing career

Following his retirement, Buttigieg moved to Mount Isa, where he coached the Mount Isa Bulls for a year before the club folded.[9]

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References
  1. Rugby League Project
  2. Yesterday's Hero Archived 10 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "1994". 18th Man.
  4. Cadigan, Neil. 25 Years in the Saddle. Playright Publishing. p. 99. ISBN 9780994237316.
  5. "Mad Cows - booze and mayhem lead posse up north". SMH.
  6. "Alfie's odyssey the difference". The Daily Telegraph. 19 May 2010.
  7. "Buttigieg retires". ABC. 25 August 2003.
  8. "Cowboys stalwart to retire". League Unlimited. 25 August 2003.
  9. Blaschke, Ben. "Where Are They Now? John Buttigieg: Maroons hard-head". NRL.com. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
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