He played his junior rugby league for Souths Townsville and attended Pimlico State High School before being signed by the North Queensland Cowboys.
[4] In Round 13 of the 1996 ARL season, Buttigieg made his first grade debut against the Sydney Tigers, starting at prop.
In Round 6 of the 1999 season, he knocked out Penrith Panthers prop Craig Greenhill at Dairy Farmers Stadium during an off the ball incident.
[5] In October 1999, he represented the Arthur Beetson-coached Aborigines side, who defeated Papua New Guinea in a two-game series.
In 2001, Buttigieg made his State of Origin debut for Queensland, scoring a try in a 34–16 win over New South Wales at Lang Park.