Laybutt debut a family affair
The tears will be flowing at Commbank Stadium on Friday night when Zac Laybutt runs out for his North Queensland Cowboys debut against the Parramatta Eels.
Watching from the crowd in Western Sydney will be his mum and dad, brother Blake and his partner, plus 20 or more friends and family.
Elder sibling Kyle, 27, who played twice for the Cowboys in 2017, will also be flying south for the game, which kicks off at 8pm on Friday night, before returning on Saturday to play for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in Kawana against the Dolphins.
He said it was a small sacrifice he was more than willing to make to see his brother achieve his boyhood dream.
“He only gets one debut,” Kyle said. “You don’t want to miss these things. He was there for mine, so it’s the least I could do. He’s my little brother and he’s achieving a dream.
“I reckon I will shed a few tears along with my parents and probably a lot of the people in the crowd there watching.”
Zac, who has played 17 times for the Blackhawks in the past two seasons, said he was unsure how he would react.
“I don’t know whether I will be emotional, pumped up or nervous,” he said. “I think a bit of everything will be flowing through the body but once I step on the field and touch the ball for the first time or make my first tackle, I will be fine.”
Zac left Year 12 early to attend the Melbourne Storm Academy on the Sunshine Coast before he too joined the Cowboys.
The 21-year-old, who has been playing in the halves and fullback for the Blackhawks in the Hostplus Cup, said his preferred position was centre, which is where he will line up on Friday night, but he was just happy to be fulfilling his dream.
With Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi and Tom Dearden in the Queensland State of Origin squad, more chances could be on the way.