Burton back at Belmore to boost morale for Bulldogs

Fresh off his dream debut for the Blues, Matt Burton is ready to back up for the now in-form Bulldogs on Saturday night, delivering a boost of morale ahead of Canterbury’s crucial clash.

Having climbed off the bottom of the ladder with consecutive wins over the Eels and Wests Tigers, the Bulldogs will look to continue their resurgence against the fifth-placed Sharks this weekend as they look to keep their 2022 finals hopes alive.

After what he dubbed a “whirlwind week” the star five-eighth said his main priority is coming back to do his job for the boys in the blue and white.

“It was great to come in today and see all the boys again. There were plenty of smiles around so I’m pretty happy,” Burton told the media on Wednesday.

“But I only got the call up from the results as a team, so I’ve got to thank everyone for working hard and helping me get selected.

“There’s just a good vibe around the club at the moment and I’m looking forward to this weekend.”

Burton produced a memorable performance for New South Wales, churning out 108 running metres, laying on a try assist and scoring a try to help the Blues in a convincing 44-12 win over the Queensland Maroons in Perth on Sunday evening.

“As time goes on, I hope I can add a few things here and there that I have learnt through the camp,” he said.

After you get a taste of Origin, you get a lot of confidence out of it so I’ll hopefully just keep working hard and get another call.

Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton

“My main focus is just playing good footy here at the Bulldogs and I’ve just got to come back here and do my job for the team.”

Hard-working prop Max King, who has also been instrumental in Canterbury's consecutive wins, said the Bulldogs boys are “all smiles” since Burton’s return to the club this week.

"I think for a couple of days there, I couldn’t find anything in my news feed that wasn’t about him. His head's a bit bigger so I don’t know if he’ll fit his head-gear,” King joked about his star teammate.

“But everyone’s really happy for him, we’re all smiles.  He went outstanding so hopefully he’s there again and they’ll take the shield in Game Three.”

Hosting the Sharks at CommBank Stadium on Saturday, King said he hopes to give the Bulldogs fans something to cheer about again.

“Ever since coming here, I’ve felt the passion of the fans and the hunger for success here,” he said.

“It’s probably been the first time that we’ve known when there’s 30 minutes to go and you start to think to yourself that we could win this and when you keep scoring the fans just love it.

“But Cronulla are in fourth, they’re a good side with a few ex-storm mates that I know will play good football and do a good job.”