A Clever Tactic and a Milestone to Forget
Matt Burton’s cheeky tactic to distract Nathan Cleary as he prepared for a crucial goal-kick during the Bulldogs’ 32-16 victory over the Panthers on Thursday night proved to be an unexpected success. The incident occurred during what was supposed to be a significant moment in Cleary’s 200th NRL game, but instead, it turned into a memorable misstep.
Burton, known for his quick thinking and flair for the dramatic, managed to pull off a move that caught Cleary off guard. Just after half-time, Cleary had set up Tom Jenkins for a second try with a precise kick. With the visitors leading for the first time in the match, Cleary had the chance to take the lead. However, his attempt at goal missed the upright, bouncing back off the post.
Replays revealed that Burton had been tossing the ball into the air three times just before Cleary moved in to take the kick. When approached by this masthead in the sheds, Burton admitted he hadn’t expected Cleary to miss. “I didn’t think he’d miss that. I was cheering. I thought he would have been watching the ball, not watching that [tossing the ball]. It must have worked.”
“We knew it was a big occasion for Nathan, with 200 games. We had to go after him, and I thought we did a good job on him,” Burton added.
Cleary, however, remained focused on the result rather than the distraction. He admitted he hadn’t noticed what Burton was doing, but expressed disappointment in the lack of commitment from his team throughout the 80 minutes.
A History of Distractions
This isn’t the first time an opponent has tried to disrupt Cleary during a critical moment. In 2022, the NRL proposed a $5,000 fine for a Parramatta trainer who ran in front of Cleary as he lined up a kick. The incident highlighted the growing concern over such tactics in the sport.
Last year, Parramatta’s trainer Corey Bocking faced severe consequences after running in front of Jayden Campbell as he attempted a kick on the Gold Coast. The club described the incident as an “honest mistake,” but Bocking, now with South Sydney, received a five-match ban, and Penrith were fined $50,000. The NRL also noted there had been five previous incidents involving Penrith trainers since 2021.
Another example came in 2024 when former Tigers prop David Klemmer distracted then-Parramatta skipper Clint Gutherson during a penalty kick. Klemmer’s antics led to a humorous aftermath, as he had to explain to his children why he celebrated wildly and made an “up yours” gesture to Gutherson.
Referee’s Decision and the Impact on the Game
The NRL confirmed that referee Gerard Sutton had the authority to blow a penalty and order Cleary to re-take the kick if he felt Burton was being genuinely disruptive. However, no such action was taken in this instance.
Despite the setback, Cleary refused to make excuses for the loss, which marked the first time this year for the Panthers. “We weren’t fully committed in stages when we needed to be, and Canterbury were,” he said. “We made our left edge do too much work with the ball, and they were under the pump in defence.”
Cleary acknowledged the challenges the team faced, including some frantic moments where the ball hit the ground and unnecessary risks were taken. “It was a disappointing night for myself. Sometimes that’s rugby league. Previous weeks, things were coming off, but against the Dogs they weren’t.”
Looking Ahead
The Panthers had started the season in devastating form, prompting fans to speculate about their potential to go undefeated through the year. There were even discussions about including players like Casey McLean in Origin selections.
Coach Ivan Cleary responded to the Bulldogs’ success in targeting McLean, Blaize Talagi, and Tom Jenkins with a smile. “Maybe they’re getting ready for Origin camp. A couple of boys went back a couple of pegs; they’re young, and it’s just a good part of the experience for them.”
He also praised the Bulldogs’ performance, saying, “We got reminded what a good hard game of footy looks like, and I’m sure will be better for it.”
Meanwhile, Panthers representative back-rower Liam Martin left the field in a knee brace and is set for scans on Friday. His injury adds another layer of concern for the team as they look to regroup and refocus.
