Matt Burton of the Canterbury Bulldogs has declared his preference to stay at five-eighth in the future.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the Bulldogs were considering moving Burton to the centres for the 2024 season.
Burton started his NRL career at the Penrith Panthers, where he was named to the Dally M team of the year as a centre in 2021, as well as representing New South Wales at State of Origin and Australia at international level.
Burton’s possible departure comes after the Bulldogs have battled for points in recent seasons, with coach Cameron Ciraldo hoping to lead his Belmore-based club away from the bottom of the league with a slew of new recruits.
The most significant of them is Stephen Crichton, who is anticipated to play fullback, while Blake Taaffe, Jae Salmon, and Drew Hutchison could all compete for the number six shirt in a halves pairing with Toby Sexton, who came from the Gold Coast Titans in late 2023.
But it would necessitate Burton shifting to the centers, which the young gun is not keen on doing, telling The Sydney Morning Herald that, while he will do what is required, he has told Cameron Ciraldo that his choice is to stay in the halves.
“Yeah, I think he knows where I want to play and what my best position is,” Burton went on to say.
“I just told him that yesterday when I spoke to him.”
Burton’s kicking game – with one of the best bombs in the competition – was used to great effect for the Blues at Origin level, and he could well find himself in more of a roaming centre role, as Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell did at that level, and is expected to be used by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at the New Zealand Warriors in 2024.
AJ Brimson has also stated that if Keano Kini or Jayden Campbell win the race for the Gold Coast’s number one jersey under Des Hasler, he may be doing something similar in the centres for the Titans in 2024.
While Burton believes he has faults in his game that need to be addressed, he does not believe he has a chance to play representative.
“I think if I can knuckle down and play my best footy at six, then I think that there might be a chance to play rep footy at six,” Burton was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
“I’ve obviously played center before.” It’s always an honor to put on [representative] jerseys.
“I’m striving to get back there, so it’s all good.”
The Blues’ current number six, Jarome Luai, missed Game 3 of the 2023 series because Cody Walker was selected.
The Blues’ current number six, Jarome Luai, missed Game 3 of the 2023 series because Cody Walker was selected.
Walker’s form will be scrutinized throughout 2024 after the South Sydney Rabbitohs missed the finals in 2023, while Luai’s off-field developments will be scrutinized as he prepares to sign a new contract, potentially taking him away from the Penrith Panthers for the first time in his career.
Burton will need Canterbury to be significantly better than they were in 2023 if he is to be considered for the Origin number six jersey, and he will need to play a bigger role in that.
The centers may be the right location for
