NRL All Stars 2023: Bailey Butler hopes Indigenous All Stars call up can keep dream alive

After a call from Wayne Bennett, Bailey Butler thought his NRL dream could finally be a reality, until injury struck. But now he hopes an All Stars call-up can ressurect his career.

Sean O'Sullivan will be the Dolphins’ foundation halfback. Picture: Getty Images.

After five years at Redcliffe, Bailey Butler had given up on chasing an NRL career and moved back to Rockhampton when he was invited to join Wayne Bennett for the summer.

“And it was good, right up until the second week,” Butler recalls.

“I did my plantar fasciitis under my foot and didn’t come back to training until three weeks ago. So it wasn’t really a red-hot crack with them.”

So, back home Butler went, his boyhood dreams seemingly dashed again, when he got a phone call from someone else. This time it was Queensland legend Matty Bowen.

“He’s asked me before to play some carnivals here and there, but this time he told me I was being strongly considered to play in the Indigenous All Stars game,” Butler says.

“That was a week before the teams were announced and I was nervous and anxious for that phone call the whole week.

“Then when the real call came, I was shocked, then had a lot of adrenaline.

“This game means a lot. It’s representing my people, my family, my mob.”

It also means that his first grade ambitions aren’t totally over.

Bailey Butler is hoping his All Stars call up can help keep his NRL dream alive.

It wasn’t over when Zac Saddler became the first indigenous player to crack the All Star team in 2020 before going on to make his NRL debut the following year.

Nor was it over when Shaquai Mitchell also ran off the back fence for his people, then his club, last year. And he’ll get to do it, alongside his brother, Latrell, all again this year.

It was the stuff Butler, the cousin of former North Queensland hooker John Doyle, had been dreaming about half a decade ago.

“I moved down to Redcliffe. I was there for five years. But yeah, I got a bit frustrated and then moved back home in 2020 because I had a family,” he said.

“I’d kind of had enough of it. I kept pushing but nothing was happening for me.

“Honestly, two years ago I wasn’t considering being back and playing footy. But I had another crack and I had a pretty good year last year.

“Then I realised I might have a chance of getting something.”

Butler spent five years at Redcliffe, before giving up footy to support his family. Source: Redcliffe Dolphins

This All Stars game is his chance.

Butler averaged over 100m a game for the Central Queensland Capras last year, and, according to his one conversation with Bennett, he needs to cash in when ready.

“He was intimidating at first, then he starts talking. He’s just like a normal human being, you can open up about anything,” Butler said.

“He said it was unfortunate to get injured when I did, but he just said to keep going because you don’t know what’s going to happen.

“It gave me a lot more inspiration and motivation. I want to do that instead of doing concreting up in the Rockies.”

INDIGENOUS ALL STARS WHO PLAYED BEFORE NRL

Zac Saddler - 2020, debuted in 2021 for Manly

Shaquai Mitchell - 2022, debuted in 2022 for South Sydney

Bailey Butler - 2023*

WAYNE TO PUT RIGHT BRONCOS SACKING INJUSTICE

—Travis Meyn

Wayne Bennett will unleash Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at fullback and has handed the Dolphins’ foundation No. 7 jersey to the former understudy of Kangaroos halfback Nathan Cleary.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Dolphins coach Bennett has settled on the playmaking spine to lead the NRL’s 17th club into its inaugural season.

Penrith recruit Sean O’Sullivan will be given first crack at the coveted halfback role alongside fellow former Bronco Anthony Milford at five-eighth.

Bulldogs recruit Jeremy Marshall-King is set to start at hooker while Bennett has guaranteed ex-Broncos half Kodi Nikorima will be in his best 17, likely as a super sub.

Bennett has ramped up pre-season training at Redcliffe with only five weeks until the Dolphins celebrate their NRL entry in a Suncorp Stadium blockbuster against the Roosters on March 5.

Sean O'Sullivan will be the Dolphins’ foundation halfback. Picture: Getty Images.

Instead of leaving anything to chance in the trials, Bennett has selected his all-important spine to give the Dolphins clarity when they face the Cowboys and Titans in pre-season hit-outs.

While the Dolphins have failed to land a genuine “marquee” signing for their foundation season, Bennett has confidence in his key players to deliver.

At the helm of the Dolphins’ control room will be well-travelled halfback O’Sullivan, who made his NRL debut in 2018 and has played 32 games for the Roosters, Broncos, Warriors and Panthers.

O’Sullivan, 24, spent last season as Cleary’s deputy, playing 11 matches as Penrith registered back-to-back premierships.

Bennett said O’Sullivan was ready to lead the Dolphins.

“Sean will be our halfback,” he said.

“He is well-mannered and well-presented. He knows the game really well.

“He is a really good team player and knows his role really well. He is a smart player who will do a good job for us.

“He came to the Broncos because of me but I got the sack (2018) and never got to coach him for one minute.

“When he went to Penrith, into a good system at a good club, we saw what he could do.

“We know the ability he has. He is a good professional.”

Anthony Milford is set to don his favoured No. 6 jersey once again under Wayne Bennett. Picture: Getty Images.

Bennett is also backing Tabuai-Fidow to flourish in the No. 1 jersey he has coveted since debuting for the Cowboys in 2020.

“Hammer” was not able to pin down North Queensland’s fullback role last year, eventually seeking a release from his Cowboys contract to join the Dolphins.

Bennett said he brought Tabuai-Fidow to Redcliffe to play fullback and was putting faith in him to shine after overcoming an ankle injury suffered in last year’s World Cup.

“He has speed and movement. He is very skilful and you can’t coach that,” he said.

“He has great anticipation as well and playing fullback requires a fair bit of that. I am more than pleased to have him there.

“The Cowboys were in a tough position there with different position players over a period of time. He came here as our fullback and will be playing fullback.

“It’s one of the most challenging positions on the field to play in the modern game.

“There’s so much required of them and they’ve got to have a very good skill set. His is very good, it’s a credit to the club that’s brought him through.”

Former Broncos five-eighth Milford is set to start in his favoured position while Bennett has been impressed by Nikorima, who he also coached at the Broncos.

“He is in a great place,” he said.

“He looks happy, is enjoying his training and is a very good little player who’s had a couple of tough years.”

Kodi Nikorima has impressed Bennett and will likely feature as a super sub off the bench. Picture: Getty Images.

Bennett is also piecing together his backline, telling Euan Aitken to focus on playing right centre as opposed to back row, where he was last year crowned the Warriors’ player of the year.

“I had a chat to Wayne and that’s what he wanted me to have a crack at,” Aitken said.

“He thought it’d be the best fit for the team.

“I’m excited to be back in the centres. It’s a good challenge for me.

“There’s a lot of competition for spots in this backline and I’m ready to attack that head on and hopefully get that round one centre spot.

“It’s a very big challenge defensively but I like when you get that one-on-one challenge to attack the opposing centre.”