NRL 2022: Secret behind Matt Burton’s bomb and how the Bulldogs will shut down Tom Trbojevic

Penrith and the Roosters found a way, now it’s the Bulldogs’ turn to try and stop Tom Trbojevic - and in the precocious talents of Matt Burton, they may have the answer.

Matt Burton’s spiral bomb is one the best in the NRL and now teammate Brent Naden has revealed the unusual secret behind the Canterbury five-eighth’s tricky kick.

Burton’s bomb bamboozled Brisbane’s back three, Tesi Niu, Corey Oates and Selwyn Cobbo, last weekend with the trio struggling to contain the kick.

Naden is expecting Burton to deploy the kicking weapon on Manly’s Tom Trbojevic in a bid to neutralise the superstar full-back’s impact on Sunday night.

“I reckon it’s because of his toes, he has the longest toes you will ever see in your life,” Naden said with a laugh.

“He’s actually got the size 10 foot but actually has three sizes in his toes.

“I reckon that’s where he gets the extra oomph from.

“It’s like a spring, the toes just flick up.

“I’m glad he is on my side kicking the ball, because when that ball goes up it’s just ‘good luck to whoever is catching it’.

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Matt Burton’s bombs bamboozled the Broncos, and Naden says the secret is in the toes. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Burton credited Canterbury assistant coach Craig Sandercock for helping to hone his kicking game while at Belmore.

Before then, Burton learned an important lesson about putting in ‘extras’ from Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary during his time at the foot of the mountains.

“He was a massive help for me, the preparation before the game was the biggest thing for me and the amount of time he put into it,” Burton said.

“I try to be the last one off the field, an extra 20 minutes or so after training each day, a fair bit of time goes into it. It pays off in the game.

“I got a few well off the boot on the weekend [against Brisbane], it’s pleasing I have to keep working hard, be consistent.

Playing out of position in the centres for the Panthers, Burton did not have a chance to use his kicking game regularly in matches.

“Being a five-eighth, it was a big thing I had to get into, being in the centres last year I didn’t do much kicking. So that was the main thing for me coming into this side and being the main kicker,” Burton said.

But the Bulldogs won’t solely rely on Burton’s bombs to contain Trbojevic and keep the Sea Eagles winless on Sunday night.

Naden says the Bulldogs have a plan to shutdown Tom Trbojevic when the Bulldogs take on Manly in Round 3. Picture: Getty Images.

Trent Barrett’s men have analysed the blueprint both Penrith and the Sydney Roosters used to shut down Manly’s most important player and the reigning Dally M medallist.

Like the Panthers and Roosters, the Bulldogs are planning to ‘name drop’ Trbojevic out of the game and swarm the no. 1 with defenders at every opportunity.

“Luke Keary never said a player‘s name so much in a game, so probably that. Just try and let the boys know where he is at all times because he is dangerous around that ruck,” Naden said.

“It hasn’t been the best start to the season for them … he’s going to come out firing, I think we just take a leaf out of the Roosters and Penrith … they did a pretty good job to try and handle him. It’s going to be hard. We have to try and be the best we can.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Secret behind Matt Burton’s bomb and how the Bulldogs will shut down Tom Trbojevic