‘It’s round. But it’s obviously flat’: NRL star’s bizarre conspiracy theory confession

The running joke these days is that everyone has a podcast.

The reality is some people probably shouldn’t have a podcast or be invited to take part in a podcast.

That brings us to Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton.

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The 23-year-old went on the Let’s Trot Show recently, hosted by fellow league standouts Josh Addo-Carr and Josh Mansour, which was published this week.

On this occasion, Burton was interviewed by Mansour in a chat that went through a range of topics including his NRL pre-season, his no carb diet and growing up in Dubbo in regional NSW.

All pretty standard stuff giving fans more of an insight into Burton, who has already played for NSW and Australia and captains his club at such a young age.

In one section of the show, the previous guest asks a question for the following guest to answer, and this is where Burton came unstuck.

Kris Fade, a radio presenter and producer, left the following question for Burton to read out and ponder.

“Do you believe in that the world is flat,” Burton read. “If no, some people do. What would you say to them?”

Mansour was taken aback by the question.

“F**k, that is a good question,” he said. ”But it’s the most random … I did not expect that at all.”

Burton then took the discussion in a direction that few would have seen coming.

“It’s a tough one, aye,” he said. “Do you believe the world is flat. I don’t know, aye.

“Yeah I believe it is.”

“No you don’t,” Mansour quickly fired back.

“Yeah I do,” Burton answered.

“You believe the world is flat,” Mansour asked again.

“Yeah. Well, like, it’s round. But it’s obviously flat because, if it was … I don’t know.

“I actually don’t know.”

Compelling stuff.

Mansour then tries to respond while simultaneously preventing his head from exploding.

“I’m lost now,” he said. “No, I believe it’s a sphere

“Yeah I obviously believe it’s like a sphere,” Burton agreed.

Then Mansour went off on his own tangent.

“See this is what I don’t understand right, when people say the Earth is flat, I don’t even know where to go with this, I’m so lost.

“Anyway I believe the world is a sphere, I don’t believe it’s flat. I believe everyone’s got the right to think and believe whatever they choose, but I think it comes down to a bit of conspiracy theories.

“Down a rabbit hole and I say to myself why would I guess the government or higher beings or forces want us to believe that the Earth is round. Doesn’t make sense to me.”

Right.

“Yeah I don’t get it,” Burton concluded. “But yeah, no, it’s a mad question. I don’t know.

“When I look at it, it’s obviously round, but then I sort of do believe that it’s flat in some way.”

Mansour wasn’t quite done yet.

“If it’s flat, it can’t be, it can’t be a sphere. If it’s flat, it’s gotta be like a square sort of thing.

“I don’t know man, I don’t know.”

We bet Fade never expected that sort of reaction.

In terms of professional athletes, NBA superstar Kyrie Irving is probably the most noted flat Earth conspiracy theorist.

Speaking on a podcast – see, not a good idea – Irving said in 2017 “this is not even a conspiracy theory … the Earth is flat, it’s right in front of our faces, they lie to us”.

Irving eventually apologised and attempted to walk back those beliefs, fairly unconvincingly.

For Burton, the response was swift on social media, partly sparked by one post with the caption: “I always assumed Matt Burton was one of the more intelligent players but clearly that was based on a feeling more than actual evidence. Like… a flat earther.”

“What gave you that assumption? Have you ever heard him talk?” was one reply.

Another post showing the video clip used the caption: “Didn’t have Matt Burton as a flat earther on my 2024 bingo card.”

Some of the kinder reaction included:

“Footy was definitely the only option for Burton.”

“Not sure he understood any part of that – practising bombs during geography class at Dubbo high.”

“Grade 1 HIA before the seasons even kicked off.”

“Check the man for CTE, wow.”

Outside of that unfortunate topic, Burton was also asked about a possible move to the NFL in the United States.

The superboot was approached by scouts a couple of years ago to take part in a combine as a punter, but is focusing on his NRL career for now, contracted to the Bulldogs through 2027.

“Maybe down the track,” Burton told Mansour. “You never know.

“It’d be a mad job to go over there, kick the footy and get paid a motza.

“I’m a bit young now and it’s a big move. I don’t know.”

– with NCA Newswire