Heartbroken Bulldogs star Matt Burton clings onto baby son after Manly’s stunning second half comeback ended Canterbury’s season
Manly have advanced to the second week of the NRL finals and ended Canterbury’s Cinderella season with a come-from-behind 24-22 win in the sides’ elimination final at Accor Stadium.
The Bulldogs controlled long stretches of Sunday’s match, but a runaway try from Tolu Koula helped put the Sea Eagles on top during the final 10 minutes.
Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton had two chances to level the scores in the final two minutes, but his attempts at two-point field goals both pulled up short and the Sea Eagles held on.
The Sea Eagles will meet the Sydney Roosters for a semi-final at Allianz Stadium next Saturday night, with the Bulldogs left to regroup following heartbreak in their first final since 2016.
A devastated Burton was consoled by his family in the stands, and was seen clutching onto his one-year-old son Noa after the final whistle.
The despondent Canterbury stars were left reeling on the Accor Stadium turf while their Manly rivals celebrated within earshot, having secured an almighty comeback.
The Bulldogs had to compete without Josh Addo-Carr on Sunday afternoon, with the winger standing himself down after allegedly testing positive for cocaine.
Addo-Carr has accepted a three-month driving ban and a small fine following his roadside test last Friday, but maintains his innocence.
‘First of all I want to say sorry to my team and our fans for all headlines and discussion around me and the club,’ he said before the game.
‘I know I’ve done nothing wrong and my name will be cleared in time.
‘It’s frustrating that the club has to deal with this situation and I feel awful for that. I want it to be known that I didn’t take drugs and I look forward to my name being cleared.
‘I want to thank everyone at the club, especially Gus [general manager Phil Gould], [chairman] Adam [Driussi] and [coach] Cameron [Ciraldo].
‘Until my name is cleared, I will do whatever is best for the team. My entire focus is on today [the elimination final against Manly] and my heart is with the boys.
‘I hope I get the chance to show what the club means to me next week.’