Harata Butler
Birth date28 June 1993 (age 33)
Birth placeKawakawa, New Zealand
Height173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight97 kg (15 st 4 lb)
Club 1Cronulla Sharks
Year1start2023
Appearances 18
Tries 10
Goals 10
Fieldgoals 10
Points 10
Club 2Nth Qld Cowboys
Year2start2024
Appearances 25
Tries 20
Goals 20
Fieldgoals 20
Points 20
Club 3New Zealand Warriors
Year3start2025
Year3endpresent
Appearances 311
Tries 30
Goals 30
Fieldgoals 30
Points 30
TeamaNew South Wales
Yearastart2014
Appearancesa1
Triesa0
Goalsa0
Fieldgoalsa0
Pointsa0
TeambMāori All Stars
Yearbstart2019
Yearbend23
Appearancesb3
Triesb0
Goalsb0
Fieldgoalsb0
Pointsb0
TeamcNew Zealand
Yearcstart2020
Appearancesc1
Triesc0
Goalsc0
Fieldgoalsc0
Pointsc0
Source[1]

Harata Butler (born 28 June 1993) is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Women's Premiership.

A , she previously played for the Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys.

Background

Butler was raised in Huntly, New Zealand, where she attended Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga and played her junior rugby league for Taniwharau.[2][3]

Playing career

Early years

In 2013 she moved to Australia and began playing for the Canley Heights Dragons in the Sydney Metropolitan Women's Premiership, winning premierships in 2013 and 2014. In 2014, she represented New South Wales in the Interstate Challenge, starting at in a loss to Queensland.[4][5][6]

In 2016 after a year off due to the birth of her son, Butler returned to New Zealand and played for the Papakura Sea Eagles in Auckland.[7] That year she represented the Counties Manukau Stingrays against the Akarana Falcons in a curtain-raiser to the New Zealand Warriors' Round 21 NRL game.[8][9]

In 2019 Butler represented the Māori All Stars for the first time, coming off the bench in their 8–4 win over the Indigenous All Stars.[10]

In 2020 Butler played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Nines.[11] In November 2020, she made her Test debut for New Zealand, starting at in their win over Samoa.[12]

2023

In 2023 Butler returned to Australia, joining the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Harvey Norman Women's Premiership.[13]

On 23 May, she signed a one-year contract with the Cronulla Sharks.[14] In Round 1 of the 2023 NRL Women's season, she made her NRLW debut for the Sharks, starting at and scoring a try in a 28–14 to the Canberra Raiders.[15]

2024

On 18 January, Butler joined the North Queensland Cowboys, signing until the end of the 2025 season.[16] Prior to the NRLW season, she played for the Brisbane Tigers in the QRL Women's Premiership.[17]

In Round 1 of the 2024 NRL Women's season, Butler made her debut for the Cowboys, coming off the bench in their 14–0 loss to Cronulla.[18]

On 12 September, Butler signed with the New Zealand Warriors on a two-year contract.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Harat Butler – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org
  2. ^ Waikato, Herewini (5 April 2024). "Born out of racism, Taniwharau Rugby League Club celebrates 80 years". Te Ao Maori News
  3. ^ "Episode 9 – Kickin' it with Harata Butler". YouTube. 17 July 2023.
  4. ^ "2014 NSW Women's – Team Announcement". NSWLR. 24 June 2014. Archived 2019-10-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  5. ^ "2014 Women's Interstate Challenge". NRL. 13 July 2014.
  6. ^ "WE NEED YOU Women's Rugby League History". NSWRL. 10 April 2018.
  7. ^ "The mother-son sacrifice driving Butler's 10-year dream". NRL. 16 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Kiwi Ferns galore for Women in League clash". NZ Warriors. 28 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Stingrays take Women in League battle". NZ Warriors. 30 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Queensland talent named for Women's All Stars clash". QRL. 6 November 2018.
  11. ^ "World Cup winners for WNRL Nines". NZ Warriors. 10 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Strong Warriors flavour in Kiwi Ferns squad". NZ Warriors. 2 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Pathways Wrap: Pre-Season Week 2 for Cup and Flegg, Junior Reps Round 3". South Sydney Rabbitohs. 20 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Sharks add depth and quality to their NRLW squad". Cronulla Sharks. 23 May 2023.
  15. ^ "NRLW Team List – Sharks v Raiders". Cronulla Sharks. 18 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Cowboys sign Butler". NQ Cowboys. 18 January 2024.
  17. ^ "TEAMS: QRL Women's BMD Premiership – 2024 Round 4". LeagueUnlimited. 2 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Tonegato leads the way as Sharks shutout Cowboys". NRL.com. 27 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Waikato trio signed for return to NRLW in 2025". NZ Warriors. 12 September 2024.