‘I’m a freaky man’: Inside one of the most audacious tries in Kangaroos history
Matt Burton finished up almost going over the advertising boards, and then into Josh Addo-Carr’s arms, after one of the most spectacular tries in Kangaroos history.
Burton’s no-look, between the legs bat back in Australia’s World Cup demolition of Scotland on Saturday (AEDT) started a few seconds of magnificent mayhem that will be replayed for years to come. Gathering the ball and then hitting the gas, Addo-Carr grubbered past one hapless Scottish defender and outsprinted another to ground the ball just inside the dead-ball line.
The comparisons with Mark Gasnier’s famous try in the 2008 Centenary Test began almost immediately.
It was soon pointed out that the historic play is remembered more for Greg Inglis’ Superman-style bat back than Gasnier’s slips catch and touchdown. Burton, who went careening past touch judge Kasey Badger over the sideline after his bat back, promised he would be in Addo-Carr’s ear along those lines.
But there was no arguing with Addo-Carr’s response to the try.
“He was yelling at the crowd; ‘I’m a freaky man, I’m a freaky man’,” Burton laughed.
Josh Addo-Carr ices a try for the ages in the final few minutes against Scotland.Credit:Getty
Addo-Carr was all gags and giggles after the last of his four tries in the 84-0 thrashing in Coventry – Australia’s second-largest winning margin in history.
“I just thought it was a great team performance tonight,” he said when asked about the try that must rank among the most audacious scored in green and gold.
With “the Foxx” offering little, a rarity in itself, Burton talked reporters through the last-minute cherry on top of his Kangaroos debut.
“I didn’t really have to do much and I didn’t really know where it was going. I just flicked it under and hoped for the best,” he said, confirming he had no idea Addo-Carr would be on hand to reel the ball in.
“I ran into the bollards in the corner. I turned around and I was hoping he finished it off. When they went back to the video ref I was thinking, ‘jeez I hope my foot’s in’, so I was sighing in relief.
“It’s funny, as soon as we got back in the sheds I thought, ‘I’ve seen that before somewhere’. And I just remembered GI’s flick back in and I thought, ‘It’s pretty crazy how that worked’.
“You can’t beat speed, [Addo-Carr] is too fast. He was outstanding tonight with four tries and he deserved them all.”
Coach Mal Meninga knows his way around a spectacular Test try. Along with the Inglis-Gasnier combination, his famous final-minute 1990 Ashes try was also used as a comparison to Addo-Carr’s effort.
“What one was that?” he said. “You’ve put me on the spot and there’s been many great tries scored in international rugby league. But I think that’s up there.
“It was magnificent. That’s what happens when you have such talented players. Burto between the legs, back to Foxx.
“Foxx kicks down the sideline, he’s got to be quick and he scores in the corner. It’s the try of the tournament.”
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