Canterbury look at shifting Burton to free up his running game.
Telegraph Sport
In what would be a shock positional move, Canterbury is considering shifting Matt Burton out of the halves and back to centre for 2024.
Burton has played 47 matches for Canterbury - all at either five-eighth or halfback.
While the decision isn’t final, the club’s coaching staff is contemplating a move for Burton depending on how potential halves perform during off-season training.
Many regard Burton as a better running player than playmaker. A shift would free up Burton to start running more.
Should Burton – who played 23 games for Canterbury last season - return to the centres, Canterbury has several halves options including Toby Sexton, Drew Hutchison, Kurt Mann, Jaeman Salmon and Blake Taaffe.
Young half Karl Oloapu has undergone career-saving back surgery, his future uncertain.
High-profile recruit Stephen Crichton could also play five-eighth, as he has for Samoa, albeit unlikely.
This masthead has spoken to well-placed sources at Belmore who confirmed Burton may return to the position he played in 20 of his 32 matches for Penrith.
Burton even scored a try from centre in the Panthers’ 2021 grand final win over Souths in Brisbane.
Canterbury’s coaching staff is monitoring every player over the off-season.
Burton would train, and perhaps trial, at centre before any decision is reached about team selection for the club’s round one game against Parramatta at CommBank Stadium.
One source said: “We still have three months before it becomes clearer. Matt has such a great attitude.”
Burton’s dangerous kicking game could be diluted by swinging him wide to the centres.
Former Canterbury premiership-winning five-eighth Michael Hagan has a huge opinion of Burton – and backed a possible move back to centre.
“Physically, Matt can handle centre – he has that physicality in his make-up,” said Hagan, an ex-premiership-winning coach.
“Matt played at centre a fair bit at Penrith before he came to the Dogs. You know he can do the job.
“His kicking game is the other part of the conversation. How do you get that involved when playing centre but that is something the coach will work out.
“I like Matt’s temperament. He is skilful and smart – he will do a good job wherever they play him.”
Crichton is likely to play fullback.
“The Bulldogs need to settle on their spine early in the season,” Hagan said.
Bulldogs officials have been immensely impressed with Burton’s physical condition during summer.
Canterbury plays Melbourne (February 15, Belmore) and Cronulla (February 23, Pointsbet Stadium) in the 2024 NRL Pre-Season Challenge.
In what would be a shock positional move, Canterbury is considering shifting Matt Burton out of the halves and back to centre for 2024.
Burton has played 47 matches for Canterbury - all at either five-eighth or halfback.
While the decision isn’t final, the club’s coaching staff is contemplating a move for Burton depending on how potential halves perform during off-season training.
Many regard Burton as a better running player than playmaker. A shift would free up Burton to start running more.
Should Burton – who played 23 games for Canterbury last season - return to the centres, Canterbury has several halves options including Toby Sexton, Drew Hutchison, Kurt Mann, Jaeman Salmon and Blake Taaffe.
Young half Karl Oloapu has undergone career-saving back surgery, his future uncertain.
High-profile recruit Stephen Crichton could also play five-eighth, as he has for Samoa, albeit unlikely.
This masthead has spoken to well-placed sources at Belmore who confirmed Burton may return to the position he played in 20 of his 32 matches for Penrith.
Burton even scored a try from centre in the Panthers’ 2021 grand final win over Souths in Brisbane.
Canterbury’s coaching staff is monitoring every player over the off-season.
Burton would train, and perhaps trial, at centre before any decision is reached about team selection for the club’s round one game against Parramatta at CommBank Stadium.
One source said: “We still have three months before it becomes clearer. Matt has such a great attitude.”
Burton’s dangerous kicking game could be diluted by swinging him wide to the centres.
Former Canterbury premiership-winning five-eighth Michael Hagan has a huge opinion of Burton – and backed a possible move back to centre.
“Physically, Matt can handle centre – he has that physicality in his make-up,” said Hagan, an ex-premiership-winning coach.
“Matt played at centre a fair bit at Penrith before he came to the Dogs. You know he can do the job.
“His kicking game is the other part of the conversation. How do you get that involved when playing centre but that is something the coach will work out.
“I like Matt’s temperament. He is skilful and smart – he will do a good job wherever they play him.”
Crichton is likely to play fullback.
“The Bulldogs need to settle on their spine early in the season,” Hagan said.
Bulldogs officials have been immensely impressed with Burton’s physical condition during summer.
Canterbury plays Melbourne (February 15, Belmore) and Cronulla (February 23, Pointsbet Stadium) in the 2024 NRL Pre-Season Challenge.
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