Heartbroken Bulldogs star Matt Burton clings onto baby son after Manly’s stunning second half comeback ended Canterbury’s season
- Canterbury lost to Manly in the NRL final
- Matt Burton missed the chance to take it to a golden point
- The devastated Bulldogs were consoled after their defeat
Manly have progressed to the second week of the NRL finals, ending Canterbury’s Cinderella season with a 24-22 victory in the selection final at Accor Stadium.
The Bulldogs controlled the game for much of Sunday’s game, but a superb try from Tolu Koula gave the Sea Eagles the lead in the final 10 minutes.
Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton had two more chances to level the score in the final two minutes, but his two-point attempts both failed and the Sea Eagles held on.
The Sea Eagles will face the Sydney Roosters in a semi-final next Saturday night at Allianz Stadium as the Bulldogs look to bounce back from a disappointing first final since 2016.
Burton was comforted by his family in the stands and was seen holding his one-year-old son Noa after the final whistle.
Canterbury’s dispirited stars were left on the Accor Stadium pitch as their Manly rivals celebrated within earshot of their stunning comeback.
The Bulldogs were without Josh Addo-Carr on Sunday afternoon as the winger withdrew after reportedly testing positive for cocaine.
Addo-Carr has accepted a three-month driving ban and a small fine after passing his driving test last Friday, but he continues to maintain his innocence.
A distraught Matt Burton couldn’t guide the Bulldogs through the NRL final
The Canterbury superstar clung to his son Noa after the final whistle
The Bulldogs gave away a commanding lead on Sunday afternoon and lost to Manly
Canterbury played a final match for the first time in eight years
“First of all I would like to apologise to my team and our fans for all the headlines and discussions surrounding me and the club,” he said before the match.
‘I know I have done nothing wrong and that my name will eventually be cleared.
“It’s frustrating that the club is dealing with this situation and I feel terrible about it. I want it to be known that I have not taken drugs and I look forward to clearing my name.
‘I want to thank everyone at the club, especially Gus [general manager Phil Gould], [chairman] Adam [Driussi] And [coach] Cameroon [Ciraldo].
‘Until my name is cleared, I will do what is best for the team. My full focus is on today [the elimination final against Manly] and my heart is with the boys.
‘I hope I get the chance next week to show what the club means to me.’