Former NRL premiership winner Brett Kimmorley thinks Matt Burton would be right to feel disappointed after being named on the bench for Penrith ahead of Friday's battle of the west.
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Burton scored his first NRL tries while he also set one up and was strong throughout for the Panthers during last Friday night's win over the Warriors.
It was Burton's third game in the NRL and made it back-to-back starts in the absence of the suspended Nathan Cleary.
Cleary returns from his two-match ban on Friday for the blockbuster clash with ladder leaders Parramatta and many respected figures in the game had called for Burton to retain his spot in the starting lineup at the expense of Jarome Luai.
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But when the lineups were released on Tuesday it was Luai named in the number six alongside Cleary while Burton was in jersey 14.
"I think Matt Burton probably could feel disappointed because he was so good last week," Kimmorley told NRL.com.
"They've got two great positions though. Burton can come off the bench and play probably some dummyhalf and Luai could play the versatile role too.
"Nathan Cleary is more of a runner, he's not the stand back and steer the side around. That means you need a running five-eighth, which Burton and Luai both are."
Against the unbeaten Eels the spark Burton could provide from the pine may well be crucial for the third-placed Panthers.
Elsewhere ahead of round five, Coonamble junior Braidon Burns has been dropped for the Rabbitohs.
Burns is out of the 17 due to the return of James Roberts but there's better news for Wellington's Kotoni Staggs.
The Cowboys junior returns from his one-week suspension for a much-changed Broncos side looking to bounce back from last round thrashing at the hands of the Roosters.
Former Dubbo CYMS coach Dean Pay has made just one change to his Bulldogs side after Monday's breakthrough win.
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.
