‘Are NFL Scouts Watching?’: Matt Burton’s Bombs From The Boot Leave Commentators Stunned

Coming into State of Origin Game 2, we all knew Matt Burton’s kicking ability would be a factor for New South Wales.

But it’s become crystal clear that we didn’t quite grasp just how deadly his left boot is – so much so that NFL scouts have been called upon to take notice.

New South Wales Blues centre Burton has an Origin debut to remember in Perth.

Not only did he bag a try and have a hand in another, but he wreaked havoc with his booming bombs all night.

And one kick in particular will be giving the Queensland Maroons backline nightmares for weeks to come.

Early on in the second half, Burton unleashed a kick which – if truth be told – looked like it reached higher than the 61,000-seater Optus Stadium where the game was being played.

The spiralling torpedo honestly felt like it was in the air for ages, disappearing into the stars before eventually free-falling in the direction of Maroons winger Murray Taulagi.

With the ball moving wildly in the wind, Taulagi struggled to catch it as it plummeted back towards earth.

Queensland star Taulagi attempted to throw an arm out at it but completely missed as the ball ricocheted behind him and bounced across the turf agonisingly-close to the try line.

It was reminiscent of an NFL punter skyrocketing the ball into the air and making it land on a sixpence – very impressive stuff.

The act left Nine’s commentary team in awe as they called for NFL scouts to tune in.

“Is this going to America? Are the NFL scouts watching this? Look how much it is swinging away,” rugby league legend Andrew Johns said during the broadcast.

“That is phenomenal.”

Credit: Supplied

Joey wasn’t the only one who couldn’t quite believe what he was witnessing.

“I wonder in a few years time as he gets older, we’ve seen it occasionally with the AFL guys that they get head hunted by NFL clubs as punters. I’ve never seen a boot like it,” Fox Sports’ Michael Ennis said.

“I thought his kicking game to start the second half was the lightning rod moment to give NSW the field position and territory.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen as big a boot in rugby league.

“That nearly left the stadium and did a lap around a star.”

Australia’s most-well known NFL export is probably Jordan Mailata of the Philadelphia Eagles, but perhaps the best punter goes by the name of Michael Dickson who plies his trade for the Seattle Seahawks.

Since being drafted back in 2018, Dickson has taken the NFL by storm thanks to his often unique kicking techniques.

As for Burton, he’s carving it up on rugby league’s biggest stage.

Footy fans, even some Queenslanders, were very impressed with the debutant’s overall performance in the Blues’ 44-12 victory and flocked to social media to heap praise on him.