Phil Gould has expressed concerns regarding Matt Burton’s appointment as the 18th man for the NSW Blues, especially after Campbell Graham was sidelined due to injury. Interestingly, Graham was then named on an extended bench for the Rabbitohs ahead of their clash with the Bulldogs the next day.
Burton was summoned to the camp for game two, which means he won’t be available for Canterbury’s round 15 match against South Sydney this Sunday, resulting in the Bulldogs missing one of their top performers.
Graham was prevented from playing in the Rabbitohs’ round 14 match against the Raiders because of back spasms. Following this setback, NSWRL officials ruled him out, despite him having served as the 18th man in the first game at Suncorp Stadium, where he did not take the field.
A statement from NSWRL released on Monday night confirmed, “Three new players have been introduced to the extended bench in the 20-man squad for game two, with Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton stepping in for the injured Campbell Graham.”
Matt Burton in the Blues camp for game two. Getty
However, when the NRL team lists were revealed on Tuesday afternoon, Graham was named among the reserves for Souths in the No.19 jumper, meaning he could still have a role in Sunday’s key match against the Bulldogs.
In an appearance on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus, club CEO Gould highlighted the “frustrating” situation regarding Burton’s absence, playfully questioning Graham’s fitness.
“He [Burton] has numerous No.18 jerseys in his wardrobe and none are stained,” Gould remarked.
“He’s a professional No.18 – he does this for Australia and NSW.
“It’s great because we want our players to be in that environment, but it’s frustrating that he goes there and doesn’t play, and the club loses out on him.”
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“Interestingly, South Sydney have included Campbell Graham on the extended bench for this game. We were informed over the weekend that Graham would miss the South Sydney game against the Raiders and wouldn’t be available for Origin.
“Yet here he is, popping up on the extended bench for this weekend’s game—while knowing full well that had he not gone as the 18th man for Origin, it would likely have been Matt Burton stepping in. Quite a cheeky move, right?
“We’ll have to see if he plays.”
Campbell Graham was 18th man for the Blues in the first game. Getty
While Gould’s remarks seemed to be made in humour, they do provoke questions about how Graham can be deemed fit to play at the club level but was ruled out of Origin.
Wide World of Sports reached out to the Rabbitohs, who clarified that the decision to exclude Graham from the NSW squad due to back spasms was not made by the club.
“We took him to Canberra to see if he would settle down, but it didn’t, and he was ruled out of the game,” a club representative explained.
“NSW contacted us for an explanation on why he didn’t play, and we reported the issue with back spasms, leading to their decision to rule him out—certainly, we did not make that call.
“He hasn’t trained with us yet, but there’s a possibility he could play on Sunday if his back spasms subside, which is why he was named in the 19.”
Graham faced a similar scenario in 2023, being called into Blues camp at the beginning of their preparations, only to be ruled out by the state team’s medical staff due to a sternum injury that prevented him from completing the training sessions.
Campbell Graham in action for the Rabbitohs. Getty
There’s no certainty that the Blues would have selected Graham for the crucial 18th man position, but the fact that they reached out to South Sydney suggests he would have been a consideration for the squad for the game at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
The 26-year-old was very much in the running to start at centre for the Blues in the series opener due to Stephen Crichton’s injury, but the Bulldogs captain was ultimately cleared to play, leaving Graham on the bench waiting for a call that typically only arrives in extreme circumstances, such as multiple head injury assessments or injuries from foul play.
Burton has stepped into the 18th man role on many occasions at representative levels, and unlike some players in the broader squad—like Keaon Koloamatangi—he is not permitted to play for his NRL club prior to the Origin match.
This is not the first instance in 2025 where the top-placed Bulldogs have been affected by the 18th man rule. Coach Cameron Ciraldo has previously expressed his dissatisfaction with the current system after Kurt Mann was unable to play club football after being chosen as the official backup for the Maroons in game one.
Kurt Mann in Queensland camp Getty
Gould queried why players from teams with a scheduled bye could not be used as the 18th man, to prevent disruption to the ongoing competition.
“I believe they should utilise the 18th man in a way that supports the clubs,” he remarked.
“It’s puzzling to me why they can’t draw from a team that’s on a bye.
“There are several teams having a bye this weekend that could provide assistance.
“However, we never deny Matt the opportunity to be part of the Origin camp.
“Even if he doesn’t get to play, being among those players is beneficial for him.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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