Sign here please Mr Burke

They're human, just like the rest of us.  Every so often though, a hero turns out to be better than you thought, more than you expected, more than you could have hoped possible.

 

Eighteen months after he signed for Newcastle Falcons, you can now see why I was the first person on this site to refer to Matthew Burke as God (14th November 2004 if you're interested).

 

 

Having followed Burkey's career mainly through Sky, occasional games on the BBC, and gorged myself upon what the printed media had to say, his signing made me hope that he could bring just some of that form to Kingston Park - preferably when I managed to catch an all too rare home match.  It is fair to say that since his debut against Harlequins in September 2004, his Falcons form has been better that I could have wished for.  Seventeen tries in 38 games, amongst a points tally of 235, is a pretty good return for someone whose training is structured to preserve his career; certainly better than most players of his age in this league.

 

 

Look at his influence on the younger players; Mathew Tait, precocious talent that he is, would not have got near the England team so quickly if he didn't have Burkey in his ear cajoling him, putting him right, enocouraging him to make the most of his talent.  Similarly you can see an improvement in Jamie Noon's game over the past season and a half that now makes him England's premier centre; it can't just be a coincidence.

 

 

The biggest difference though is that Falcons with Matt Burke at full back are a better team than if he were not there.  Dave Walder and Toby Flood are very good players, but Burke is pure world class, and world class players are automatic choices regardless of age or experience.

 

Now to the point of this little monologue.  Matt Burke's contract expires at the end of the season; the Leeds game on 6th May could be the last game of a career that has seen him become Australia's second highest points scorer; the highest points scorer in a World Cup semi final and a World Cup final (both within a week); a World Cup winner; and the highest accolade of all, a Geordie legend.  we are informed by the man himself this week that he has a one year option that is up for discussion with his family, but importantly that he is enjoying the area and his rugby.

 

I've not been lucky enough to interview him; I may be starstruck if it ever happens, but I hope to do so one day.  I want to see him score mre tries like the one that beat the Dragons last January, or the one that beat Worcester this.  I want to see perfect tackles like the one against Perpignan which ultimately meant that we were able to go to Paris.

 

 

I want my unborn child to have a chance too see the man its Daddy believes to be the best player to ever pull on a rugby shirt, let alone a Falcons one, but it won't be in a position to do that until next season.

 

This might sound selfish, but it's written on behalf of every Falcons supporter.  I want to be able to watch Matt Burke for (at least) one more year - and I'm not the only one.  Genius is difficult to find in the first place, but it's almost impossible to replace fully.

 

Sign here please, Mr Burke.  And make us all happy.