3 minute read
Josh Addo-Carr has missed out on selection in Origin II but that hasn't stopped him from cheering Matt Burton as he prepares to make his Origin debut.
Josh Addo-Carr has given fellow Canterbury attacking weapon Matt Burton some sage advice as he prepares for his first State of Origin camp: Make sure you savour the chance to debut all over again.
Both Burton and Addo-Carr missed the NSW squad for the series opener but the pair's form and their linkwork together has reached new heights in the weeks since, catapulting both into the selection conversation.
After the Bulldogs' 36-12 defeat of the Wests Tigers on Sunday, Fittler went into the dressing rooms to shake Burton's hand and tell him he would be playing for the Blues on June 26.
But Addo-Carr has again missed out on selection in the second game and looks at long odds to feature at all this series.
Addo-Carr admitted he had been hurt by his exclusion from Game I but said it hadn't come as a surprise the second time around.
"(Wingers) 'Toops' and 'Bizza' (Daniel Tupou and Brian To'o) had really good first games. They did as much as they could," he said.
"I wasn't expecting to be called, to be honest."
Addo-Carr has wasted little time joining Burton's cheer squad, offering his good mate some advice ahead of his debut.
"I'm so happy for him," Addo-Carr said of Burton, who joined Canterbury this year from Penrith.
"He's spewing that I wasn't there but I just said enjoy the moment. It's like debuting all over again.
"You get to represent your state and your family at the same time and where you're from in Dubbo. Enjoy the moment, it's a special, special occasion."
Burton said the idea of playing Origin had always given him "goosebumps" and that he looked forward to reuniting with some familiar faces in the team.
"There's obviously a lot of Panthers players in there and we have previous combinations from last year," Burton said.
"I'm keen to get in there and see those guys.
"I never thought I'd get the opportunity to play, so I'm really grateful."
Burton has played five-eighth for the Bulldogs all season but looks set to line up at centre in Origin, just as he did for Penrith in last year's title-winning season.
Given his powerful kicking game, though, Burton could take on more of a playmaking role than other outside backs.
"I'd be happy to take a bit of pressure off (the halves) if that's what I have to do," he said.
"I'm really confident stepping back into the centre role. I loved playing there last year and to go back there is going to be unreal."
