Matt Buttenshaw. The Crafty half back is a Titans TEDS program member who at just 18 years old made his NRRRL First Grade debut over the course of the 2018 season.
Matt Buttenshaw started off the 2018 season playing for Northern Rivers in the inaugural New South Wales Country U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition starting in a different position in each of his three games. In Round One he started at half, in Round Three at fullback against North Coast and Round Four saw Matt Buttenshaw start at five eight against the Greater Northern Tigers, a match that saw him score in the 26th minute of the first half in a tough Northern Rivers loss.
For Ballina in the NRRRL U18 competition, Matt Buttenshaw played in six matches, in his third year in the competition after making his U18 debut as a 16 year old in 2016. Matt Buttenshaw was one of the try scorers for Ballina as they defeated Cudgen in the U18 NRRRL Grand Final.
Matt Buttenshaw made his NRRRL First Grade debut in April 2018 against Cudgen post the U18 Laurie Daley Cup competition.
Over the last couple of seasons Matt Buttenshaw has had success at the schoolboy level for St Johns College Woodlawn, including this season when Woodlawn defeated Newman Technical College Port Macquarie 4 – 0 in the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges Plate Final and in 2017 when St John’s College Woodlawn won the New South Wales GIO Trophy.
In attack Matt Buttenshaw’s calling card is his organisational and passing skills more so than his running game. His speed would probably considered average for a half/five eight but he will throw a dummy and run when opposing defences are focussed on his support runners and provide him with opportunities.
Matt Buttenshaw also does not have quick twitch feet, thus his step is more average. He seems like he maintains his composure on the field and does not yell or scream but obviously gets his message across to his team mates with a calm presence.
Matt Buttenshaw also has a good long passing game thus enabling the ball to get out to his back line quickly when they are set deep. Matt Buttenshaw develops a good spiral on the ball and is able to lead his outside backs onto the ball through putting the ball out in front of them.
Matt Buttenshaw will also take the ball to the line and delay the pass as long as possible to his support runners when necessary. Matt Buttenshaw looks to dictate what the defensive line needs to do to combat his sides attack rather than waiting to see how the opposition is looking to defend at a particular time in a game.
Defensively whilst not being the biggest player running around, Matt Buttenshaw is effective as a result of his sound low tackling technique where he can quickly bring down attackers due to the fact that he will go in low, he is also adept at tracking the ball across field to be in the right place if outside attackers cut back inside.
Matt Buttenshaw has moved up to the Gold Coast for the 2019 season and will be part of the Tweed Heads Seagulls U20 Hastings Deering’s Colts squad as well as the Titans TEDS program. Matt Buttenshaw will also be Colts eligible in 2020.
As was evidenced in the U18 Laurie Daley Cup this season, Matt Buttenshaw can play a number of positions including half, fullback and five eight, but with his scheming nature and ability to set up his support runners, I believe that Matt Buttenshaw will ultimately end up at half back.
For me, Matt Buttenshaw has a playing style similar to that of Manly and Australian International half Daly Cherry-Evans as a half who is able to steer his side around the field and even though he is not necessarily fast can make a break himself if opposition defences make the incorrect assumption that he will never run himself and only ever pass or kick