Michael Buettner

P’matta junior, an Australian Schoolboy rep in 1991, made his first grade debut for the Eels the following year. The hard-running centre came to prominence in P’matta's 22-16 win over the touring Great Britain side in 1992. Despite a great step and explosive pace, Buettner toiled in P’matta’s backline for several seasons before signing with Norths as a replacement for centre Ivan Cleary who was going to Easts in 1996. The move was the turning point in the young player’s career, coinciding as it did with the split in the game. With Super League players not considered for Test duty in 1996, Buettner was chosen to take on Papua New Guinea and scored two tries in what was to be his only international match. In 1998, Buettner scored a club record 21 tries in a season but never felt at home with the merged N’Eagles club and returned to P’matta. 2001 saw him in superlative form, re-igniting his partnership with former Norths clubmate Jason Taylor and bringing his experience to a young side that eventually won the minor premiership and made the grand final. The following year he joined the growing exodus of players that left the club and moved to the W’Tigers where at one stage, he was thrust into the unlikely role of halfback. Buettner retired at the end of the 2004 season to work for the NRL as a player liaison officer.