Burton brilliance helps Panthers prove they are far from spent force

To think Matt Burton will only be paid about $450,000 at Canterbury next year. The Bulldogs-bound Burton produced some individual brilliance to help Penrith defeat the Sydney Roosters 20-14 and could easily command almost double the market rate based on the season he has had.

There was an 80 metres try in the first half when he stepped inside James Tedesco to score. Then in the second half he dummied and stepped off his left foot to score another. That try came a few minutes after he had scooted out of dummy-half and charged 50m downfield.

The towering 21-year-old appeared to run up and down on the spot like a character from a Benny Hill skit whenever he spotted open space, but he can clearly move. And there is every chance he will arrive at Belmore with a premiership ring as Penrith sent a timely reminder to the rest of the competition of why they deserve respect.

The Panthers had an ordinary couple of weeks after clinging to an unflattering win against Brisbane before being blown off the park by Melbourne.

They welcome the return of Nathan Cleary next Friday for the clash against St George Illawarra, as well as strike centre Stephen Crichton.

Burton will return to the centres but will be better for another run in the halves.

He preferred to praise his middle forwards, but Penrith coach Ivan Cleary made sure Burton received the accolades when he said: “Matt was terrific, he’ll admit the last few weeks he’s been quiet. But when he runs the ball and gets in space, you can see what he can do.

Matt Burton beats the tackle of James Tedesco at Suncorp Stadium.Credit:NRL Photos

“He kicked well, too, and defensively he certainly did his job. I’m happy for him. He’s a good kid.”

The Roosters were on the end of a 6-1 first-half penalty count, which included Egan Butcher and Angus Crichton being placed on report, while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was given 10 minutes in the bin for laying all over Scott Sorensen after a six-again call had been made.

Referee Gerard Sutton had only minutes earlier warned both skippers that the next player who misbehaved would be given a spell.

A disappointed Waerea-Hargreaves shook his head and said to Sutton, the top whistleblower who is not afraid to hand out penalties and sin-binnings: “That’s rough, mate.”

Roosters coach Trent Robinson could live with the sin-binning, just as long as officials had the “kahunas” to call it out every time it happened.

A bloodied Angus Crichton looks on during a break in play.Credit:NRL Photos

“Consistency has to be there, and if you’re going to call it, call it every single game, every single week,” Robinson said.

The Roosters did well to hang in this contest as long as they did. A Burton penalty goal gave Penrith a 14-6 half-time lead and then they trailed 20-6 and looked ready to be on the end of a Penrith walloping.

But they had too many class players to allow that to happen and hit back via Joey Manu and Daniel Tupou. They looked frantic with their attack at the death.

You have to wonder how the Roosters and their depleted roster will stand up against the heavyweights in the finals. Some of their big guns like Tedesco, Crichton and Waerea-Hargreaves must not have much left in the tank.

Coming into the Penrith game, they had taken care of strugglers Canterbury, North Queensland, Newcastle and an ordinary Parramatta. They should have no problems returning to the winners’ circle next week against the Broncos.

Burton, a kid from the bush who could just as happily enjoy the subsistence life, finished with 173 run metres and six tackle busts. Viliame Kikau was excellent, as was debutant Taylan May, Tyrone May’s little brother, who was a late inclusion on the left wing, not to mention the returning Isaah Yeo.

Penrith jump back into second spot on the ladder ahead of Souths. They will meet Wayne Bennett’s men in a fortnight and that now shapes as a belter.

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Christian Nicolussi covers rugby league for The Sydney Morning Herald.

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