Jhett Butler hasn't played a game of SG Ball for the Newcastle Knights in 2021 but plans to make an impression when he gets his chance.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 19-year-old has been sidelined after sustaining a hamstring injury at training before the start of the season.
It's his right hamstring. The same one that partly derailed his 2020 campaign - COVID-19 did the rest - while playing SG Ball for the Knights.
READ ALSO:
But the former Farrer student is focused on the future. He's been doing his rehab and hopes to return before the end of March.
Butler wants to close out the season - which finishes late April - strongly before playing with Souths Mereweather Lions in the Newcastle competition.
The outside back played under 19s with the Lions in 2020 and though he's still eligible for the juniors, he wants to test himself against older players.
"I definitely want to have a crack at the seniors and play against grown men," Butler said.
"It'd be good to at least play reserve grade and push for a spot in first grade."
The 2021 season will be another step for Butler toward, hopefully, playing in the NRL.
The Tamworth native knows it won't happen overnight. Butler is aiming to play Jersey Flegg in 2022 and he is ready to do the hard work.
"Pretty much my whole entire game can improve," Butler said.
"Defence wins you games and defence has always been a big part of my game. I'd love to keep improving my defence and I'm playing with some good halfbacks in our team so hopefully I can get some good footy from them and get out in the open."
Butler has been in Newcastle since the start of 2020 and counts himself as "pretty lucky". The 19-year-old picked up a job as a concrete labourer two weeks after settling in Newcastle and worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
There was more talent than luck involved in him landing with the Knights, though.
He was scouted at a combined high schools carnival in Toronto and within the blink of an eye he had finished school at Farrer and moved to the Hunter.
"I always wanted to make a career out of it [rugby league] and it was a bit of a shock - the whole Knights thing," Butler said.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark northerndailyleader.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News