N.Butcher .... My question for fellow fans.

[Vasco]

Nat is an honest and hardworking Rooster that requires very simple messaging...run, tackle, run, don't pass, tackle.

He was a standout in the U20s because of his passing and offloading ability.

For some reason this has stopped completely, apart from a dumb offload on Sunday that gave Lam no hope of catching it.

[The Axe]

Every team needs a Tetavano. This applies especially for us to afford our superstars.
Low cost / high work rate. Butcher is such a player.

[Mickie Lane]

Turning 24 this year and with 50+ games under his belt I really feel like this may be his make or break year although he is contracted until the end of 2022.

To be fair to him I think you can discount a lot of his seasons because he’s never been given a consistent run in a single position to find his role in the team and he has played through a lot of injuries for the team. Unfortunately for a player with a lot of quality he’s now being pigeon holed as a utility forward.

At his best he’s a nuggety forward with a low centre of gravity, good leg drive and a really strong upper body strength that allows him to pop some really good and late offloads. I liked what I saw in Round 1 from him, he seemed to have some more power in his runs and that translated to his stats. He averaged the most post contact metres per run of any forward on the park. Then unfortunately in line with how his career has gone he had to plug a hole at left edge back row so we didn’t get to see anything more in Round 2.

He gets or at least used to get a lot of comparisons to Paul Gallen and I think they’re fair and apt, maybe what a lot of people forget is that Paul Gallen didn’t make a name for himself in First Grade until he was 23, he dabbled around as a 2nd rower, five-eight, mobile forward off the bench. Their career trajectory hasn’t been too far off so far, being a much shorter player it took Gallen quite a while to put on the muscle mass he needed to become an effective first grader.

Taukeiaho is probably the other example of a short forward who didn’t find his feet in first grade until he was 23-24. So there’s still plenty of hope for Butch I just really hope he can take his game out another level this year because there’s a lot of quality there and clearly a very loyal club man as well.

Top read, thanks 6.

[Thirteen]

I reckon the club will definitely want to extend Butcher cause he can’t/won’t demand big dollars. You can’t pay all your forwards $500,000 plus.

[King Salvo]

Didn't the signing of Nat Butcher cause the Vermin Souffs to kick all Chooks junior teams out of the joint Chooks/Vermin comp. I remember it being specifically mentioned as a reason for that decision- 2016/17?

[Johnny Tobin]

He is probably one of the most consistent bench backrowers in the comp.

They can't all be superstars though I was disappointed he didn't grab his chance last season when Victor was out.

[Johnny Tobin]

I quite like him, but will we stay in the 17 when everyone gets back from injury?

I think he will be 18th man if we have everyone available.

[zac]

maybe it's a bit out of left field but i'd like to see him give dummy half a try. if josh maguire can do it, why not nat?
atm he's number 3 for 2nd rowers (number 4 if and when cords comes back) and number 3 for locks. he has ball skills, is the same height as sam verrills, can plug a whole defensively in the middle and if his most likely position is on the bench, being able to play dummy half would make his selection more attractive.
the other thing is that he's just married into money so while he'd want a fair wage, if his heart is with the roosters, then he should stay on less than what he can get elsewhere.
players like gal are pretty special and i'm not convinced he's on that track but there are better judges of footy players than me and if he's a late blossomer then so much the better.

[crikey chris]

Every team needs "workers". You cannot have superstars in every position. Highly regarded by Robbo.

Souffs were mighty pissed when he signed with us...which is a good thing. Chapter 567 in the Book of Fools.

[Big Dog]

Last year was a learning curve for Nat. Hard to judge him on just two games this season but he seems a more mature and confident player.

[Big Dog]

I think he will be 18th man if we have everyone available.

He will be handy come origin time, and leading up to the finals (assuming we are in that position) if Robbo wants to rest any players.

[The Skeez]

Bench forward is basically a position these days. He follows game plans well. He comes on against tiring players and works over defenders, which allows the following plays space and a target. Keary et al would find him very important.

[The Marshall]

Over the past few seasons I have read posts from other rooster fans regarding Nat Butcher and how they're unsatisfied with his ability.

I've never been one to look into it and always thought he would come good once he put in size.

My question for fellow chooks fans is do you think he will grow into the player you had hoped? If not has your expectations adjusted and are you satisfied with his current progress?

My personal opinion is he is a safe player in a team of superstars and sometimes I myself may forget that and expect too much from him. Generally happy with his defence and seems to work great within a team.

I think your assessment of him being safe is an apt description. I think he is progressing slowly but surely. The key is that Robbo is no fool and Robbo keeps picking him ahead of others. I don't mind him at all, he works hard in defence, he is quicker than people think and he can use footwork to make post contact meters.

[Larry Long Balls]

I'm a fan of Nat Butcher.

[Keith]

He is reliable and he’s a Rooster.
How does his pace compare the other players , I think he could his a hole if he had a step.