Glen Buttriss
A tough and versatile Canberra Raiders hooker who provided over a decade of gritty service in the NRL's engine room.
Born 1985 (age 41)·Australian rugby league footballer·Birthday: August 20·Millennials
Biography
Glen Buttriss emerged from the fertile rugby league grounds of New South Wales, signing with the Canberra Raiders after impressing in their junior system. For nine seasons, he was a fixture in the green machine, a player defined more by his work rate and adaptability than flashy headlines. Operating primarily at hooker, Buttriss was the kind of player coaches trusted—durable, defensively sound, and capable of playing multiple positions in the forwards when called upon. His career, spent entirely with one club, mirrors that of many essential NRL contributors: the local talent who forms the backbone of a team, playing through the weekly grind with a quiet professionalism that earns the respect of teammates and fans alike.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Glen was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Glen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Glen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 124 NRL games, all for the Canberra Raiders between 2008 and 2016.
- Represented the NSW Country Origin team in 2012.
- Captained the Raiders' NSW Cup team, the Mount Pritchard Mounties, to a premiership in 2015.
Did You Know?
He played his junior rugby for the Temora Dragons.
Buttriss was known for his strong defensive work, often making over 40 tackles in a game.
He played alongside Raiders legend Alan Tongue for several seasons.
“I did whatever the team needed, whether at hooker or in the middle.”
