Matt Burton has revealed the tragic death of a close friend is driving him to NRL Grand Final success
Joel Gould - NCA NewsWireSeptember 29, 2021 - 12:00PM
The NRL Grand Final will be Matt Burton’s last game for Penrith and there’s one key reason why he’s desperate to make it a memorable match.
Matt Burton is driven to make his last game in Penrith colours a winning occasion as he continues to be inspired by the memory of a close friend who died far too young.
The 21-year-old Panthers centre will be playing for his family and his childhood best mate Sam Fraser who drowned in a tragic accident in his home town of Dubbo, when he runs out in Sunday’s NRL Grand Final against South Sydney.
After making his debut in NRL 2019 an emotional Burton spoke of his special bond with Sam, whose headgear he wore and whose name ‘Frame’ was written on his wrist.
Burton‘s former halves partner at St Johns in Dubbo will be in his heart when he runs out on Suncorp Stadium.
“Everything I do is for my family and him. He passed away when he was 16 and I always wanted to do well for myself after that. It was devastating but it still drives me now and gives me a lot of inspiration."
“Sam and I went to school together and grew up best mates our whole life. We had a pretty tight squad there [at St Johns] . He was my halfback and I was the five-eighth. He was a tough little fella.”
Burton said he regarded Sam‘s family as his own and that they “always stay in touch”. He has shown the same loyalty and care for the Panthers. After being left out in the opening two rounds he has played 25 consecutive games following a vocal tug of war for his services.
Burton will join Canterbury in 2022 but the Bulldogs tried to get the Panthers to release him early this year. A war of words erupted and Penrith stood their ground. Burton said it was the right call.
“There was a lot of talk around me leaving at the start of the year but I am glad that was settled. There was a lot of confusion and a lot of stories that came out but I knew what was best for me. I wasn‘t even a look-in for the starting team at the start of the year so it is pretty crazy to see where I am now. I have been grateful to get that centre role this year and I have loved every minute of it. I have got a position here and I am really happy with that. I never thought it would happen this fast, to get to a grand final. It was good to have the experience of being a part of the squad last year, but to be in the team this year is crazy. One [game] to go and I‘m really looking forward to it.”
After learning a new position Burton said he would now join Canterbury as a more rounded player and one with finals experience, a rare recent commodity at the Bulldogs.
“I never played any centre [growing up]. I always played five-eighth. It was tough to learn all the different roles of a centre like the yardage carries and defensive reads. It is all different but everybody here has helped me. Stephen Crichton is only young but he has helped my game a lot. It is awesome to have Bizza [Brian To‘o] outside me. He is an absolute weapon.” he said.