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This was the moment Matt Burton connected with the ball(Image: RugbyJoe on TikTok)<\/p>\nMatt Burton’s stellar kicking ability makes him one of the most valuable players in Australian rugbyThis was the moment Matt Burton connected with the ball(Image: RugbyJoe on TikTok)<\/p>\n
The high ball. It’s one of the most difficult parts of the game to manage and something Wales legend Liam Williams has always been able to deal with. <\/a>So much so, he was nicknamed ‘The Bomb Defuser’ thanks to his excellent ability to catch the ball under high pressure.<\/p>\n However, for many players, it can be an absolute nightmare,<\/a> especially when the kick is timed well with the chaser’s run. The objective of the kick is obviously to catch it and advance the attack, but a secondary objective is to simply make the ball uncatchable for the opposing team, causing chaos and putting them under pressure.<\/p>\n Australian rugby league<\/a> player Matt Burton is responsible for what may be the highest ever kick in a rugby game, <\/a>in either code.<\/p>\n For those unfamiliar, once a year, the ‘State of Origin’ series is played between New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. It is one of the most highly anticipated sporting events in Australia and sees two states go head-to-head.<\/p>\n While in the NRL, you play for whichever team you wish. State of Origin states you must play for the state in which you were born or grew up, so it’s a huge deal Down Under, perhaps even more intense than international Test matches.<\/p>\n Burton turns out for NSW and is renowned for having a cannon of a leg, so much so, that he is one of the highest-paid rugby players on the planet, across union and league.<\/p>\n In 2022, the Dubbo-born star produced a highlight moment in his catalogue of booming kicks. Knowing what was coming from Burton, the commentator exclaimed: “Here we go!” as Burton lined up the kick.<\/p>\n The co-commentator knew from the moment it left Burton’s boot that it was going to be a jaw-dropper, simply saying: “Oh my….”<\/p>\n “We have a problem,” joked the commentator. “It’s up there forever! It’s the highest kick in history!”<\/p>\n Helpless to defuse Burton’s torpedo kick, Queensland players scrambled to gather the bouncing ball before finally getting their hands on it. The 25-year-old’s kicks have now been nick-named ‘The Burton Bomb’ and he still continues to launch missiles into opposition territory.<\/p>\n Check out the highest kick in history below.<\/p>\n Content cannot be displayed without consent<\/p>\n Burton takes home just shy of \u00a3400,000 per season with Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, making him one of the best-paid players on the planet. He continues to show his class now and there are rumours circulating about a move to another club.<\/p>\n He is currently contracted with the Bulldogs until 2027, which means he cannot speak to new clubs until November 1, 2026 but he has now been linked with the Gold Coast Titans and North Queensland Cowboys.<\/p>\n He has also been linked with Perth Bears, the NRL’s newest expansion side, set to enter the competition in 2027. Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, Bears coach Mal Meninga spoke about Burton.<\/p>\n