1936-2025
Roger Buttenshaw Wests Player number 580 (1959)
Played for Wests 1958 – 1964
Roger’s tally of games included 29 First Grade games, 74 Reserve Grade and 15 Third Grade games.
During Roger’s seven years at Wests he total 46 points in all Grades.
This total is made up with 14 tries and 2 goals.
Roger’s seven seasons at Wests.
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At the age of 18 Roger Buttenshaw was first graded with Newtown in 1954 playing a number of Third Grade game.
In 1956 and 1957 Roger played both Third and Reserve Grade games at Newtown.
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The Wests Years 1958-1964.
1958 was the year Roger played a total of 11 Third Grade games and scored one try.
Wests Third Grade team won the competition in 1958.
Wests 12 beat St George 11.
A mini reunion was held at the 2018 PPM reunion.
1959 was the year Roger made his First Grade debut. Roger played in five First Grade games which included both the major Semi Final against Saints and the Prelim Final against Manly.
Unfortunately for both Roger and Wests the opposition won both games.
At the end of the 1959 season Wests played a few games in the Lismore area.
Roger was chosen to make this trip.
1960 proved to be Rogers best year at Wests for playing First Grade,with Roger playing in 10 First Grade games and keeping Rugby Union convert Arthur Summons in Reserve Grade.
In 1961 Roger played mainly in Reserve Grade and was the captain of the winning Wests Reserve Grade competition team.
Due to a number of play-off games the Reserve Grade Grand Final was played the Saturday after the Sydney First Grade Grand Final.
One of Roger’s proudest moments in his long Rugby League career.
Also not to be forgotten Roger scored two tries in this game against Norths. Note who is playing fullback!!
In the following three seasons 1962, 1963 and 1964 Roger played in 56 games which included 11 First Grade games.
In 1962 Wests Reserve Grade made the Grand Final only to be beaten by Saints .
Bede Goff, Alan Mason, Dave Barsley #15, Roger, Bobby Mara #2, Big Kel O’Shea.
Roger, Bill Tonkin #8, Dave Barsley #2, Dickie See and Keith Holman.
In Round 17 of the 1964 Sydney competition Roger played his last First Grade game for Wests.
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In 1966 whilst playing for Coonamble Roger was chosen to play five eight for the Northern Division team against the touring English Team.
1972 & 1973
In Roger’s first year as Gunnedah’s coach he took the team to the Group 4 Grand Final only to beaten by the red hot Billy Bischoof coached West Tamworth.
West Tamworth 24 beat Gunnedah 14.
In 1973 Roger was coach of the best team in Gunnedah’s Rugby League history.
This time Roger’s Gunnedah team beat West Tamworth.
Gunnedah 25 beat West Tamworth 5.
Not only did they win the Group 4 comp also the Clayton Cup for the Championship team in Country Rugby League for 1973.
**** The Clayton Cup is a trophy that was awarded by the Country Rugby League to the NSW country rugby league team with the best overall record for that season. To be eligible, the team must win the highest level of competition in its region. Usually the winner of the Clayton Cup goes through the season undefeated.
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Roger is also a Life Member of the Gunnedah Rugby League Club.
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Roger was a regularly at the PPM Reunions.
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