NRL 2024: Bulldogs win 15-14 over Sharks as Matt Burton kicks field goal in Golden Point

The Bulldogs have continued their remarkable climb up the NRL ladder, as the boot of Matt Burton delivered a golden point victory over a Sharks side who blew their opportunity.

Reed Mahoney and Matt Burton celebrate. Picture: Getty Images

Matt Burton would have been devastated to miss out on the Blues side for game two, but he didn’t show it on Friday night as the Bulldogs five-eighth nailed a golden point field goal after Nicho Hynes missed a glorious opportunity a minute earlier.

In one of the wildest games of the year, Burton missed a couple of long bombs from 45 metres out before he struck one from 38 metres which clipped the upright and went over to win it 15-14 for the Bulldogs.

“It’s a bit of a goldfish mindset,” Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said after watching his playmaker demand the ball after a few misses.

Reed Mahoney and Matt Burton celebrate. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s just so brave. It’s not easy to miss a couple and keep going after it. He certainly puts in the hours at training, and we back him.”

It was a dramatic finish to the game after the Bulldogs were awarded a penalty with five minutes to go when Toby Rudolf dragged back Bailey Hayward after a kick and was immediately hooked after Burton kicked the goal to level the scores.

Both teams had their chances in regulation and in extra time, but it was Burton who iced his moment to continue Canterbury’s charge towards their first finals appearance since 2016.

The Bulldogs remain unbeaten at home this season and are breathing down the necks of the other teams in the top four on the back of another solid defensive display.

SLOW AND UNSTEADY

They looked set to win the minor premiership last month, but the Sharks have hit the wall after slumping to their fourth loss from their past five matches.

Slow starts have plagued them all season, and it proved costly again on Friday as they coughed up a 12-0 lead after 14 minutes despite having the bye last week.

They have an easy draw coming up, but coach Craig Fitzgibbon will want to see a huge improvement from them after losing a game they should have iced when Hynes sprayed his field goal attempt from 20 out.

It caps a difficult few weeks for the halfback who was dropped from the NSW side after the game one loss, with Hynes also missing a conversion attempt after the siren against the Dolphins which would have sent that game into golden point.

“That’ll sting, and he’s got to dust himself off pretty quickly,” Fitzgibbon said.

“It’s a good opportunity to shape him.”

MIDAS TOUCH

Cristiano Ronaldo has had a slow start to the Euros, but Ronaldo Mulitalo had no such issues on Friday night as the Sharks winger put in an amazing kick to set up a try in the second half.

The Sharks gradually ate away at the deficit with Sione Katoa scoring a stunning solo try, before his fellow winger upped the ante with some individual brilliance that silenced the loud and proud home crowd.

Having seen Jacob Kiraz swallow every high kick, Mulitalo finally got his chance in the air as he caught the ball, was tackled and then somehow managed to kick it through for Braydon Trindall to put the Sharks up 14-12.

Nicho Hynes had a chance to steal victory himself, but missed his golden point field goal attempt. Picture: Getty Images

REPORT CARD

The Bulldogs will be sweating on the match review committee charges to drop with Viliame Kikau and Toby Sexton both on report.

Kikau had a brilliant start to the game and opened the scoring when he pounced on his own grubber which bamboozled the Sharks, but his night was soured later in the first half when he whacked Blayke Brailey high.

Sexton could also be in some trouble for a crusher tackle on Braydon Trindall that wasn’t penalised at the time but was eventually placed on report in the second half.

Sharks prop Oregon Kaufusi is also on report for an ugly crusher on Blake Wilson.