With one booming 70-metre kick of a soggy Steeden, the secret to Matt Burton’s career-best form for Canterbury was plain for all to see.

Andrew and Matty Johns, Brad Fittler, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater; ask any rugby league great, pundit or punter you like. They were all in raptures over Burton’s thumping 40-20, which was more of a 20-10, in the wet against the Warriors last weekend.

And Burton?

“That was a bit off the cuff,” the Bulldogs five-eighth said ahead of what looms as another greasy Friday night showdown with the Roosters.

“I got the offload and was thinking about running, but I saw the fullback on the right side so I just thought ‘I’ll give it all I’ve got here’. Luckily, it worked.”

Burton’s game has worked like never before this season as he’s worked out the balance between backing his god-given gifts and what the Bulldogs need most.

After coach Cameron Ciraldo first arrived at Belmore in late 2022, he urged his marquee playmaker to increase his video analysis of opposition defences and players.

To the surprise of many, not the least Andrew Johns, Burton’s spellbinding torpedo bombs were largely........

© Brisbane Times