“In what world?”: Why Caine is still stunned at Burton’s Origin II omission

SEN’s Joel Caine hasn’t held back in his honest assessment of Michael Maguire’s bench for the NSW Blues in Game II, questioning why Matt Burton wasn’t given a shot.

Burton, who had been named as the 18th man for three of the last four games, was a notable omission from the Game II squad with ‘Madge’ opting for Connor Watson as the team’s utility off the bench.

Watson can essentially play in any position on the field and has starred in a similar role for the Roosters in 2024 but with his inclusion coming at the expense of Burton, many fans have been left wondering what more the Bulldogs star has to do to win a spot in the 17.

Debating the topic on SEN 1170’s The Run Home, Caine and former NSW Blues forward Bryan Fletcher argued whether or not Watson was the right choice for the No.17 jersey.

Caine: “Personally, I’m mates with many involved at NSW but our jobs not to be mates and just support whatever they say and they appreciate that.

“In what world is Matt Burton not in this 17 behind Connor Watson, seriously?

“James Tedesco would be going back to the Roosters camp, there’s a Rooster out and there’s a Rooster in and it’s Teddy going out for Connor, how does that add up? Seriously.”

Fletcher: “Madge had him (Watson) in his squad for Game I because he was asking about his throat, the way he’s going to play, he’s going to be a backup hooker for Reece Robson.”

Caine: “If he was given the number 14 jersey, Jarome Luai has played a lot of dummy half in the juniors, so can’t Jarome Luai just jump into nine if we need him?”

Fletcher: “No, no way, defensively nope, they’d find him out in a second, as soon as he went in there, you can’t, I’ve seen it happen before.”

Caine: “I love Connor Watson and every NRL team that I could coach I’d want him in the team (but) Burton has got to be there.

“Burton went within a pimple of winning the Clive Churchill (medal) as a 19-year-old, he’s a winner.”

Fletcher: “Where’s he going to play if there’s not an injury? Is it a bit like when Nicho played last year and he only got the last 10 minutes?”

Caine: “This is the Cobbo situation that Queensland picked in Game I, we all loved that… I just think sometimes we (NSW) get clever.”

The Maroons will look to close out the series for a third-straight year when State of Origin heads to Melbourne for Game II on June 26.