Dogs ready to lock in Burton long-term when he gets to Belmore.
By Christian Nicolussi
August 10, 2021 — 7.30pmCanterbury have made it clear they want to keep Matt Burton for the long haul and will move to extend his deal well beyond 2023 when he arrives at Belmore at the end of the year.
The Bulldogs have landed themselves a bargain in Burton who has emerged one of the hottest prospects in the game this season.
Burton will ditch Penrith to link with the Bulldogs and coach Trent Barrett on a deal worth around $450,000 next year and $500,000 in 2023.
The 21-year-old also has an option in his favour for 2024, and Canterbury will look to re-negotiate that final year in the hope he ignores any intense interest that will come from rival clubs should he maintain his form.
The Bulldogs want to give Burton his space and let him focus on winning a premiership with the Panthers in the coming months.
They are happy with the price they have paid for his services, but want to avoid any contract sagas dragging into the start of next season, which is why they will leave nothing to chance with their new No. 6.
“He was under the radar when we grabbed him, but now he’s very much on the radar,” Canterbury CEO Aaron Warburton said.
“But we’re very comfortable with our contract arrangement with Matt in 2022 and 2023. We believe Matt has a very long and very successful future ahead at Canterbury. I know fans are enjoying watching him play at the moment.”
Canterbury’s new general manager of football Phil Gould admitted on Monday night that based on current form, Burton would be worth much more on the open market than what the Dogs paid.
But nearly $1m over two years for a player who is only in his second season – someone who has played just 24 NRL games – is still excellent money.
It was the kind of deal Penrith were never prepared to entertain.
Penrith made it known they wanted to keep Burton beyond this year, and told him to hold off signing elsewhere until they had given him his chance to shine in the centres.
The Panthers were prepared to offer around $750,000 for 2022 and 2023 before upping the ante, especially once he had become a more established first-grader.
Penrith made it clear regardless of where Burton signed he would see out the season with them, especially as cover for injuries to their star halves. Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary have both missed games this season. Burton is costing the Panthers around $150,000 for this year, a small sum for a player who scored a couple of tries in a starring performance against heavyweights the Sydney Roosters last weekend.
Gould said he had known the Dubbo product since he was 16, and wasn’t worried that Burton would be underpaid during his career.
“I’ve never ever, ever in my life had a player underpaid at any club I’ve been at – they’ve never been underpaid, whether they’re on contract or not,” Gould said on Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday night.
“He’s on a two-year deal with the Bulldogs that would not be commensurate now with what he’s worth today if he went on the open market. But that’s for a lot of players.
“It’s all about a sense of timing. Matt Burton has a bright career ahead of him and money will be the least of his problems going forward.”
