Bleeds Red, White and Blue - Nat Butcher 150 Games a Rooster

Hard-working, humble and reliable, a few words that embody Roosters Lock Nat Butcher.

These qualities and many more are a testament to the team-first forward, as he plays in a milestone game against the Titans on Friday at Allianz stadium. 150 career games in the Red, White & Blue.

Being a proud Rooster and signed until the 2027 season, Butcher is certain he is where he is meant to be,

“I’ve been part of the Roosters since I was 17 and it’s my home,” he said.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to represent this club.”

Born To Be a Butcher

150 games for a first-grade player is no easy task. But being born into a Rugby League family under former player Blake Butcher, it was destined for Nat to make his mark.

Butcher hails from Malabar in Sydney's south-east, where he was named Harold Matthews Player of the Year and represented the NSW Under-16s side while playing for the Rabbitohs.

Schoolboy Success

These talents saw Butcher selected for the Australian Schoolboys European Tour in 2014, where he crossed the tryline 4 times throughout the tour.

The Beginning of A Leader

The outstanding schoolboys performance by the young lock secured him a deal with the Rooster’s NYC Holden Cup team in 2015 and 2016. Where the latter year saw the 19-year-old make a serious name for himself. Called up as Captain of the squad, Butcher was elite in the 2016 NYC season, averaging a huge 188.5 metres and 43 tackles a game.

This incredible give-it-your-all performance week in week out saw him take the Tricolours to their first Holden Cup Premiership. The culmination of his resilient attitude saw him awarded with The Jack Gibson Medal for best on ground on Grand Final Day.

Hard Work Pays Off

On top of this, he was rewarded with selection in the NSW Under 20s, where the forward made 141 metres and 35 tackles alongside a line-break assist and three offloads.

2016 was an incredible year for the young workhorse, as his talents and hard work paid off in a Holden Cup Grand Final ring and the RLPA NYC Player of the Year. But it also saw his tough efforts recognised when he was given the opportunity to make his first-grade debut in Round 26 against the Broncos.

Roosters Coach Trent Robinson only had high words speaking on the 1165th Rooster,

“Nat was the captain of our Under 20s side and it’s been terrific to watch him develop as a leader in our NRL squad over the years,” said Robinson.

“He is a man of high integrity on and off the field, and with Nat you know that he will apply himself to everything he does, so it’s great that he will continue to represent the Roosters in the coming years,” he added.

Robbo’s foreshadowing back in 2016 was just a minor insight into how instrumental the lock’s presence would become within the Club’s culture.

Brick Wall Butch

The next couple of years saw Butcher develop his skills and honing his craft, seeing him become a regular first grader and proving to be a vital, integral part of the Rooster’s dominant 2019 championship season.

Butcher’s consistently reliable and valiant efforts paid off. As he had earnt himself a spot in the Grand Final that year where he demonstrated just how impactful he is, with a whopping 37 tackles in just 38 minutes of play, assisting his side in winning the coveted Provan-Summons trophy, and the ring that came along with it.

The fantastic Grand Final-winning season put together by the then 22-year-old forward saw him rewarded with a spot on the Junior Kangaroos roster, alongside Roosters teammates Victor Radley and Angus Crichton. The Junior Kangaroos dominated France 62-4 at WIN Stadium.

When it comes to playing internationally, Butcher is no rookie, as his Schoolboys tour back in 2014 had prepared him to become a dual World Club Challenge winner in 2019 & 2020, defeating Wigan Warriors and St. Helens respectively.

Butcher Boys Begin

2021 was a special year for Nat and the Butcher family. As his younger brother Egan, made his debut alongside him in the Round 12 clash against the Raiders at the Central Coast.

Nat shared his thoughts around that special moment, saying at the time:

“It was awesome. Egan and I haven’t played together since primary school. It’s something I always wanted to happen, and it finally happened, I’m pretty pumped.”

Nice Guy Nat

On top of celebrating this achievement with his family, the hard-working lock got to share another achievement with his Roosters family, when he was awarded with The 2021 James Mathews Award for Clubman of the Year and Roosters Our Community Award.

This award reflected a small testament to Nat Butcher’s character, winning the award for his contribution as an Ambassador to the Club’s Ronald McDonald House program at Randwick Children’s Hospital. Which saw him organise extra visits and zoom calls with the Little Legends and their families, whilst also completing the Three Peaks Challenge as a fundraiser.

Furthermore, his work in the community extended to primary schools where he delivered a health and wellbeing program to 120 students of St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School.

The Meat Pie Butcher

What would occur in the 23rd round of the 2022 season against the Tigers would be a memorable one for Butcher. The Roosters were on song all night with Butcher playing a fantastic role in the forward pack, earning himself a career high 4 tries in the dominant 72-6 win.

As Nat’s progression as a player only went higher and higher, he found himself once again on the representative stage in 2022, starting in the second row for the Prime Minister’s XIII against Papua New Guinea at Suncorp Stadium. He made an immediate effect on game day, opening the scoreboard by crossing for a try in the first two minutes.

Big Brain Butch

The Roosters forward proved that he’s not only physically strong by being a brick wall in defence, but he also put his intellectual strength on display when he was recognised alongside teammate Luke Keary for their off-field educational achievements in the 2023 Academic Team of the Year.

Brains and Brawns Butcher is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce (Data Analytics) and has completed a Certificate IV in Small Business Management and a Diploma in Business.

Tough Times Make Tough Men

2024 would be one of the biggest years for the lock. By his own high standards, he had a slower start to the season and had been named on the bench for the Anzac Day clash against St. George Illawarra, until a late injury from Radley nullified the decision.

Regardless, a tough moment like this can make or break a person, let alone a professional athlete. But for Nat Butcher this was a challenge he took in his stride. Arising from the adversity, he put his head down, got to work, and scored two tries in his team’s victory whilst having the best performance of his season to date.

Roosters Coach Trent Robinson spoke highly of the resilient forward after his efforts on Anzac Day.

“It’s a credit to him to be able to handle that, understand it and then come back in and play the way he did,” said Robinson.

“I was really proud of Nat. He’s a really good defensive player, but he’s got those attributes in attack when he lets himself open up,” Robinson added.

The Family Guy

One of Butcher’s biggest and best milestones, however, would take place off the footy field. This milestone occurred on April 5, 2024 when Nat and his wife, Harmony, welcomed their son, Beau William Butcher, into the world. One of many proud achievements for deserving lock.

As the new father approaches his tenth season and 150th game in 2025, he has adopted many more responsibilities. He is a father, a husband and a team-first teammate who leads with his actions and his words as a member of the Club’s Playing Leadership Group.

Coach Robinson further compliments Butcher’s quality in the prelude to his 150th game,

“He can play anywhere, hooker, back row, lock, front row. He’s pretty elusive, he’s got quite a fair bit of power, but he’s also one of our technicians in defence,” said Robinson.

“He’s been really key to the way we play, and there’s a lot to go in Butch,” he added.

A player that gives it his all every week, in all aspects of life, while being level-headed is a rarity to come by. However, this is exemplified in none more than Nat Butcher, a work horse that will stop at nothing for his team’s and family’s success.

Congratulations Butch, Rooster #1165.