This time last year Matt Burton was focusing on the looming Group 11 finals series with Dubbo CYMS.
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Come Friday night, the St John's junior may well be making his NRL debut.
Burton has been named on the Penrith Panthers' reserves list after for Friday's crucial clash with Cronulla after regular five-eighth James Maloney was suspended at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night.
The loss of Maloney is a real blow to the finals hopes of the ninth-placed Panthers but it could provide Burton with a first NRL appearance in what has already been a massive season for the 19-year-old.
Burton has been a vital figure for Penrith's Jersey Flegg side and has helped the young Panthers to third spot on the ladder, while he also put his name up in lights with a stellar Under 20s State of Origin showing.
After originally being a late call-up to the squad, Burton produced a man of the match performance in the 36-10 win over Queensland.
Many tipped him to appear in the NRL sooner rather than later following that performance and he remains a chance, albeit an outside one, to appear on Friday night.
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Penrith coach Ivan Cleary is likely to start Sione Katoa against the Sharks after naming the fifth-string five-eighth option on the bench on Tuesday, but he may roll the dice with untried Burton to partner Nathan Cleary in the halves after also naming him among the reserves.
Whoever does take the number six jersey will have a massive role to play as Maloney joins Jarome Luai (eye injury), Wayde Egan (shoulder) and Tyrone May (stood down) on the sideline for the game against the seventh-placed Sharks.
Maloney was found guilty of tripping Canterbury utility Jeremy Marshall-King in last week's loss and was suspended for one week.
"A little bit disappointed with the outcome," Maloney said after failing to convince Tuesday night's judiciary panel of Mal Cochrane, Dallas Johnson and Tony Puletua that he was merely intending to toe a loose ball through before taking out Marshall-King.
"Obviously (it was) not what we were hoping but that's the process and you respect the process ... and we move on."
Equal on competition points with Cronulla but with an inferior points differential, Penrith could slip to as low as 11th with a loss to the Sharks with just four rounds remaining before finals.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
