Matt Burton has sent Michael Maguire a timely reminder of his brilliance on the big stage, kicking a field goal in extra time to ice Canterbury’s 13-12 defeat of the wounded Warriors.
On the same day Latrell Mitchell went down with a foot injury that is likely to rule him out of Blues’ contention for the State of Origin decider, Burton flexed his muscles by sealing a second golden-point win in as many Bulldogs games.
The would-be NSW centre made good on his fourth attempt at a one-pointer, piloting the ball over from 24 metres out in the 87th minute of Saturday’s game at Accor Stadium.
Having lost captain Tohu Harris (wrist) 24 hours out, the Warriors’ entire back three of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Marcelo Montoya all went down injured on Saturday.
With only one fit player left on the bench, veteran second-rower Kurt Capewell spent part of his 150th NRL game on the left wing, while Leka Halasima played out of position at right centre on debut.
Even then, the Warriors twice came within inches of snatching the game – Chanel Harris-Tavita’s two attempts at a field goal were waved to the left of the posts as the gutsiest of wins slipped away.
Burton, who sank Cronulla with a one-pointer a week ago, missed his first three attempts, the first ricocheting off the post, the second pulling up short and the third charged down by Jackson Ford.
But at the death, the 24-year-old came up clutch again to keep his side undefeated through eight games at home this season.
The resurgent Bulldogs are closing in on the NRL’s top four, set to finish the weekend in fifth place on the ladder.
Burton had already pushed his case for an Origin recall when he picked off Te Maire Martin’s pass and dashed 60 metres to set up Bronson Xerri for the game’s first try after 19 minutes.
But the Warriors controlled the rest of the first half, with Watene-Zelezniak and Montoya helping their side to a 12-6 lead at the break.
Nicoll-Klokstad (calf) left the field shortly after making a try-saving tackle on Josh Curran late in the first half, having copped a knock in the opening 15 minutes but played on.
Watene-Zelezniak followed him to the sideline just after halftime when he failed a head injury assessment, before Montoya exited in the final 15 minutes.
The personnel crisis left the Warriors to tire, with Viliame Kikau helping the Bulldogs level the scores by beating Adam Pompey to Toby Sexton’s cross-field kick in the 54th minute.
But it was Sexton’s halves partner Burton who came up with the most important kick of all.
The Bulldogs lost second-rower Jaeman Salmon to an apparent facial injury in the final 10 minutes of regulation time.
Sport,Rugby League
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