No ifs, Laybutt or maybes: Centre spot is Zac's to lose

There may have been question marks in the off-season about who should fill the Cowboys' vacant centre spot but Zac Laybutt answered in style with a stellar showing against the Dolphins.

With the departure of Peta Hiku to the Super League, North Queensland were looking to find a suitable replacement, with Laybutt impressing coach Todd Payten during the pre-season to earn his chance.

After closing out 2023 as part of the PNG Kumuls team that won the Pacific Championships Bowl tournament, Laybutt started the new year with a bang with a double in the 43-18 win at Suncorp Stadium.

“He's worked really hard through this off-season break,” Payten said.

“I think he can play for our club for a long time, as long as he keeps his head down, works hard.

“He started a couple of weeks behind everyone because he went on representative duties and after two or three weeks, he got himself super fit, got his nose in front for that position and it’s his to lose.”

While his later return to the training field meant he had a lot of catching up to do upon his return to Townsville, Laybutt feels the opportunity to play representative football will further help him develop his skills for his team.

“We won the championship and the confidence it instilled in me was great, and it was a great experience,” Laybutt told NRL.com.

“I got to play with my brother [Kumuls captain Kyle Laybutt], I got to play for the PNG people there. I loved my time over in PNG and hopefully I can go back.

“(When I got back to Townsville), a lot of sacrifices went into it, I started behind a little bit, but I worked my backside off and got into that position and haven’t looked back since.”

Still now only five games into his NRL career, Laybutt has already scored five tries, but none at home, something he will no doubt look to change this weekend against Newcastle.

The 22-year-old has credited his work with assistant coach Justin Morgan, as well as advice from senior players Kyle Feldt, Valentine Holmes and Chad Townsend, for helping with his development, especially when it comes to defence.

“Toddy’s a great bloke, he’s a straight shooter, so’s Morgs; I’ve worked a lot with Morgs to get my defence up to scratch and I think that's what I needed to do in the pre-season,” Laybutt said.

“My attack’s always going to come naturally, but my defence, I had to work on it a lot and I sat down with Morgs and went through a lot of video with him, but it's been good.

“Val, Feldty and Chaddy; you are obviously going to be a sponge around them and learn as much as I can."