NRL round 12: Matt Burton’s most excellent Origin audition as Bulldogs thrash Dragons

Matt Burton is ready to play ‘anywhere’ for the Blues in Origin I, and after his terrific performance for the Bulldogs what is clear is that coach Michael Maguire needs to find somewhere in his squad for the classy playmaker.

Matt Burton fired the first shot in the fight for the NSW No.6 jersey on Thursday night, starring in the Bulldogs thrashing of St George Illawarra at Accor Stadium and then declaring he would be happy to play wherever he is picked if he makes the cut for the opening State of Origin game.

Burton has been mooted as a potential saviour for the Blues in the halves or in the centres and he did his cause no harm as he helped himself to two tries and 20 points as the Bulldogs produced a blistering second half to swamp the Dragons.

In doing so, he may have helped NSW coach Michael Maguire solve one of his genuine selection quandaries, although the other aspirants for the Blues No.6 jersey will get their chance to return serve over the weekend,

Sydney Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary and Penrith star Jarome Luai will be given the opportunity to state their case on Saturday, while Cody Walker will be forced to rely on a leap of faith from Maguire after he was ruled out for Souths.

Matt Burton watches one of his many shots at goal head towards the posts. Picture Supplied

Burton has had his moments at times this season but he could scarcely have done more in the second half to impress Maguire as the Bulldogs ran riot. He has given himself every chance to add to the NSW jerseys he won in 2022.

“I haven’t really thought about it too much,” Burton said when asked about Origin.

“I have been worried about working my backside off here for the Dogs and hopefully good things come off the back of it.

“But if I get the call I would be stoked. Having that experience (from 2022) helps a lot. I feel like I have matured more and really focused hard on my game.

“I think that is the biggest thing - having that experience makes you hungry to be back.”

Burton played two games for the Blues two years ago in the centres, scoring a try on debut as NSW thrashed Queensland and then being sent to the sin bin after trading punches with Queensland’s Dane Gagai in a 22-12 loss.

He missed the cut for last year’s series but has put himself in position to reclaim his NSW jersey after helping the Bulldogs dominate the Dragons. Asked whether he cared in what position he was picked, Burton responded with an answer that would have made Maguire happy.

“I will play anywhere,” Burton shot back.

He will now watch nervously over the weekend as the other contenders audition to play alongside Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes in the halves in Origin I, injury the only thing standing between the Sharks star and a NSW recall.

Asked about Burton, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo was reluctant to buy into the Origin debate but insisted the playmaker wouldn’t look out of place in a sky blue jersey.

“Origin is the last thing in my mind,” Ciraldo said.

“We’re trying to do our best here. I know we have class players here that are going to be in those teams if they are playing consistently.

“He (Burton) is going a lot better, he is going a lot better, but the sky’s the limit for him. If he puts it all together there is not going to be a debate if he is in that team.

“But he has done a fair bit the last couple of weeks and put himself in the frame of that team, and if he gets an opportunity I am sure he will grab it with both hands.”

Bulldogs captain Steve Crichton will be an automatic selection for NSW and insisted that Burton would be ready if called upon.

“I think so,” Crichton said.

“When he is attacking the game and he is running the ball, that is when he is at his best. I reckon he is in the mix to be selected.”

BIRD’S HORROR INJURY RUN CONTINUES AS DOGS DEMOLISH DRAGONS

- Martin Gabor

Jack Bird’s wretched run of injuries has continued with the luckless Dragons centre suffering a suspected syndesmosis injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for 4-6 weeks on a night his side crumbled to concede 38 unanswered points.

The 2016 premiership winner rolled his ankle while trying to make a tackle and was in extreme agony as he slid off the field of play and smashed the Accor Stadium turf in frustration having endured so much rotten luck throughout his career.

Bird was taken from the field on a medi-cab and needed the green whistle to deal with the pain, but the initial reports from the sheds are that he will be out for 4-6 weeks.

“I’m not quite sure (how he is). He’s going to have X-rays on his lower leg,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said.

“He was playing really well and defending really well. That was a big job for him defending Kikau, and I thought he did really well. Touch wood, it’s not too bad.”

That was small consolation for the Dragons who also lost prop forward Hame Sele to a right shoulder injury in the first half as they meekly surrendered a lead to go down 44-12 to the Bulldogs who bounced back from a tough loss at Magic Round.

The Dragons were in complete control before Bird came off, with Moses Suli powering over to open the scoring before Jacob Liddle scooted from dummy-half to give them the lead at the break.

But they capitulated in the second half with their defence falling apart as they suffered another heavy defeat.

“It’s so bad that you’ve got to try to laugh about it,” Flanagan said of the second half.

“The two halves were so different.”

Zac Lomax of the Dragons checks up on Jack Bird of the Dragons as he is stretchered off the field after an ankle injury Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The Bulldogs celebrate a Stephen Crichton try. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

ORIGIN AUDITION

Matt Burton only had one run for seven metres in the first half, but his left boot was as dominant as ever as he put in one final claim to wear the No.6 jersey for NSW in the series opener.

The Bulldogs five-eighth pounced on a grubber to score in the first half but didn’t get the chance to show off his elite running game in the first 40 minutes.

But he exploded into life after the break, with Burton backing up a Bronson Xerri break to score his second as the Bulldogs piled on points for fun.

Matt Burton continues to stick his hand up for Origin with a great performance. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The highly anticipated showdown between Josh Addo-Carr and Zac Lomax on the wing failed to live up to the hype, with the two stars kept relatively quiet just hours after it emerged Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii had won a wing spot for game one.

Lomax had one strong carry in the second half but it was an otherwise tough night with the Eels-bound winger sent to the sin bin for a professional foul.

Jaeman Salmon found the try line twice. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

SALMON DANCE

Jaeman Salmon mentioned this week how he grew up a Bulldogs fan and was in the stands when a controversial penalty denied the blue and whites a famous win at Kogarah in 2009.

He had to wait 15 years, but he got his revenge with the first double of his career as the Bulldogs feasted on a backline reshuffle which saw Tom Eisenhuth defending at left centre.

Salmon slipped through to open the scoring in the second half and was in again six minutes later when he backed up a Reed Mahoney break to stroll over.

SEXTON ON FIRE

The calls had been growing louder for Cameron Ciraldo to make a change at halfback, and the Bulldogs coach finally relented with Toby Sexton replacing Drew Hutchison in a bid to spark their attack.

Sexton only had three carries but did put in a nice kick for Burton to score and gelled well with his outside men on the right edge.

Originally published as NRL round 12: Matt Burton’s most excellent Origin audition as Bulldogs thrash Dragons