Matt Burton has received a vote of confidence from fans for his late call up to the NSW side for the opening State of Origin after the Bulldogs five-eighth was chosen in the RLWC2026 Team of the Week.
Burton, who steered the Bulldogs to a drought breaking 30-20 defeat of the Storm, received an SOS to join the Blues 19-man squad for the Origin opener after Eels playmaker Mitch Moses suffered a hamstring injury at training.
The move appears to have been endorsed by fans after the Canterbury international polled 29% of votes in the World Cup Team of the Week, ahead of Warriors halfback Te Maire Martin and Dolphins star Isaiya Katoa.
Coincidentally, Katoa was the first player the NSW brains trust turned to after Moses was ruled out but the Tonga halfback was unavailable as he suffered a head knock during last Thursday night's win in Canberra.
Burton has played five Tests for Australia and was a member of the Kangaroos squad at the last World Cup in 2022 but did not play in the final against Samoa at Old Trafford.
The Blues interchange utility is one of three Canterbury players selected in the RLWC2026 Team of the Week, along with centre Bronson Xerri and Tonga secondrower Sitili Tupouniua, after the Bulldogs ended a five-match losing streak.
Each week, fans vote for their RLWC2026 Team of the Week from players nominated after the previous weekend's NRL and Super League matches, who are eligible for the 10 nations contesting Rugby League World Cup 2026.
The RLWC2026 Team of the Week is announced each Wednesday.
Warriors and Kiwis lock Erin Clark polled the highest share of votes for the second consecutive week, with 60% of fans choosing him in the No.13 jersey.
Cowboys and Tonga prop Jason Taumalolo (18%) earned his place by the narrowest of margins after a late surge in voting to edge out Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris (17%) and Dragons rookie Toby Couchman (16%).
In-form Warriors prop Jackson Ford was again voted in the RLWC2026 Team of the Week, receiving 22% of all votes for frontrowers.
Tonga international Dallin Watene-Zelezniak also retained his place from the previous Team of the Week and Warriors team-mate Alofiana Khan-Pereira polled second to claim the is on the other wing spot.
Tonga-eligible players tries of the week
Cowboys centre Tom Chester (40%), fullback Scott Drinkwater (38%) and secondrower Heilum Luki (34%) were other popular choices.
The Team of the Week comprises of seven Australia-eligible players and two players each from Tonga, Samoa and New Zealand.
Samoa-eligible players tries of the week
The RLWC2026 Team of the Week is:
- Fullback
Scott Drinkwater 38% - Australia (Cowboys) - Wingers
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 31% - Tonga (Warriors)
Alofiana Khan-Pereira 24% - Samoa (Warriors) - Centres
Tom Chester 40% - Australia (Cowboys)
Bronson Xerri 24% - Australia (Bulldogs) - Halves
Matt Burton 29% - Australia (Bulldogs)
Te Maire Martin 22% - New Zealand (Warriors) - Props
Jackson Ford 22% - Australia (Warriors)
Jason Taumalolo 18% - Tonga (Cowboys) - Hooker
Reed Mahoney 50% - Australia (Cowboys) - Secondrowers
Heilum Luki 34% - Samoa (Cowboys)
Sitili Tupouniua 19% - Tonga (Bulldogs) - Lock
Erin Clark 60% - New Zealand (Warriors)
View the RLWC2026 Team of the Week
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