Front-rower Harata Butler earned a Kiwi Ferns debut at the end of a bumper 2020 season.
An Auckland representative in 2018, Butler was a standout in the Māori All Stars’ win over the Indigenous All Stars at the start of the following season and an engine-room cornerstone of Papakura Sisters’ 2019 ARL grand final success.
In a big 2020 pre-season, Butler had a massive game in a losing effort for the Māori All Stars (111 metres, 23 tackles) and was a try-scorer during the Warriors’ NRL Nines campaign in Perth.
Butler was named the MVP of the inaugural Sky Sports NZRL National Premiership as a vital cog in Counties Manukau’s emphatic success, before being selected in a new-look New Zealand squad.
The 28-year-old was superb on attack and defence in the Kiwi Ferns’ 28-8 win over Fetu Samoa, making several trademark tackle-busting runs and reeling off a string of her customary bone-rattling tackles.
