Matt Burton believes the "goldfish memory" that helped him ice Canterbury's latest win also ensured he could move on from his State of Origin omission.
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And despite the Bulldogs' previous frustrations, the five-eighth has declared he would make himself available if Michael Maguire wanted him in the NSW camp as the 18th player for Origin III.
Burton was the man of the hour at Accor Stadium on Friday night, slotting a field goal from just inside the 40-metre line to seal Canterbury's 15-14 defeat of Cronulla in extra time.
The clutch one-pointer came after Burton missed two attempts from beyond the 40-metre line in the final 90 seconds of regulation time.
"It was a bit of a thriller there at the end," Burton said. "I wish the first one went in, but I thought the second one was going in because it was coming back. As soon as I got the third chance, I had to take it with both hands.
"I remember reading something like, 'the ones you don't take are the ones you miss' so I just keep walking towards it."
At full-time, coach Cameron Ciraldo joked Burton had a "goldfish memory" that allowed him to bounce back from his missed field goal attempts in a matter of seconds.
The five-eighth agreed, and it's a quality that paid dividends earlier this month.
The versatile Burton was 18th player for the Origin series opener, the third time in four games he had filled the role for NSW.
But Burton was then beaten to a spot in the game-two side by newly-fit Connor Watson, finding himself left out of the extended squad altogether.
Initially disappointed, Burton said his "goldfish memory" came to the rescue.
"100 per cent," he said. "I didn't want to let it affect me too much so I just went back and put my head down and did what I could for the Bulldogs here.
"It was obviously disappointing, but I just had to put my head down and keep going and not really think about it too much.
"I think I've got a goldfish memory as it is, so it doesn't worry me too much."
Burton was happy to see his would-be teammates belt Queensland for a 38-18 win that keeps the Origin series alive heading into game three in Brisbane on July 17.
"It was a cracking game and they were all over them so I loved it," he said of the MCG triumph.
Before Origin I, Ciraldo expressed frustrations that NSW had repeatedly chosen Burton as 18th player, meaning he was unavailable for the Bulldogs for a week but unlikely to play on game day.
Maguire picked Warriors forward Mitch Barnett in the role for game two.
Limited changes are expected for the decider but if the coach wants to tweak his winning side, Burton will be there in a heartbeat.
"I'm never going to not put my hand up for the Blues,' he said. "To put that jersey on is pretty special. Whatever happens, happens. I'm just glad to get the win (for the Bulldogs) tonight."
Australian Associated Press
