News Canterbury look at shifting Burton to free up his running game

[Howie B]

Hutchison will be putting pressure on him.

So will

Taafe
Mann
Tracey
Salmon
And any other utility we sign in the off-season (if there are any left)

 

[04 Dreaming]

@Flanagun @TheSexDogs @04 Dreaming @Nasheed Magic said 5/8 preferred position and hasn't denied the centre switch discussion so Mason was correct

Anyone else find it strange that our coaches are working closely with our captain in urging him to improve his effort areas

 

[Magic Burton]

Anyone else find it strange that our coaches are working closely with our captain in urging him to improve his effort areas

Captain sets the example

 

[jordansaba]

i feel like he left penrith to be a five eighth. if we move him to centres when he clearly wants to be a five eighth i doubt he’d stick around for much longer

 

[Waldo]

I get the sense it’s a baseless rumour, probs stolen from few footy generals on here who think he’d play better at centre…. I gather he’ll be playin 6 and coaches haven’t even suggested he play centre. Probs said diddly squat tbh

 

[Magic Burton]

I get the sense it’s a baseless rumour, probs stolen from few footy generals on here who think he’d play better at centre…. I gather he’ll be playin 6 and coaches haven’t even suggested he play centre. Probs said diddly squat tbh

Actually it came from Willie Mason's podcast and Burton didn't deny the centre discussion happen.

 

[ElMagicElMasri]

The current prime minister talks a lot and says nothing at the same time.

Burton is on twice his salary

 

[speedy2460]

End the discussion. Burton is training as a centre. Thats make Taaffe the 5/8.

 

[COVENS]

Actually it came from Willie Mason's podcast and Burton didn't deny the centre discussion happen.

Can I suggest that it might be a tactic to publically tell Matt that he can't be complacent?

Do we honestly think that Mason got approved to broadcast that information?

 

[liljohny]

Anyone else find it strange that our coaches are working closely with our captain in urging him to improve his effort areas

Why is it strange?

Do you think Johns, JT, Smith, Cronk, Slater etc ever stopped improving their game?

Do you think they would have listened to their coaches offering constructive feedback?

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Can I suggest that it might be a tactic to publically tell Matt that he can't be complacent?

Do we honestly think that Mason got approved to broadcast that information?

Maybe but it's a bit shit we've got to go to these sort of lengths to try and motivate someone that's meant to be a leader in the squad. I don't think Ciraldo has he balls to start him anywhere else other than 5/8. Maybe as the season progresses he might be "forces" into making a change.

 

[King Gus]

Actually it came from Willie Mason's podcast and Burton didn't deny the centre discussion happen.

I’ll ask again as it wasn’t answered the first time, so masons podcast also spoke about RFM and the hard training now about burton to centre, so you pick and choose what to believe from mason?

 

[PaxMaxi1980]

@Flanagun I told you in a message yesterday KG will swear at you. I was right.

Oh look they have private circle jerks.

 

[COVENS]

Maybe but it's a bit shit we've got to go to these sort of lengths to try and motivate someone that's meant to be a leader in the squad. I don't think Ciraldo has he balls to start him anywhere else other than 5/8. Maybe as the season progresses he might be "forces" into making a change.

It is shit, agreed - and I don't really get why he was put in a leadership position to start with.

If this middle rotation doesn't improve drastically, he's going to have a tough time next year with ball in hand but he needs to focus on what he can control - defending and kicking with purpose, areas he definitely struggled with this year. Pretty annoyed we didn't get Maloney in house for specialised coaching for him.

 

[CrittaMagic69]

It is shit, agreed - and I don't really get why he was put in a leadership position to start with.

If this middle rotation doesn't improve drastically, he's going to have a tough time next year with ball in hand but he needs to focus on what he can control - defending and kicking with purpose, areas he definitely struggled with this year. Pretty annoyed we didn't get Maloney in house for specialised 1coaching for him.

His general play kicking should be a strength but he genuinely has no clue when it comes to kick selection and even let's himself down with execution as he just seems to try and kick the ball as hard as physically possible. I don't know how this wasn't addressed during the season, is he just not capable of accurately placing kicks?

 

[steeliz]

Anyone else find it strange that our coaches are working closely with our captain in urging him to improve his effort areas

Are you suggesting that the captain shouldn't work closely with the coach?

 

[Shnissss]

‘I want to play five-eighth’: Burton eyes Blues’ No.6 jersey
The Sydney Morning Herald

At a black-tie sportsman’s dinner for St Gregory’s College Campbelltown last Friday, Matt Burton was asked which was his preferred playing position.

It was a timely question, given that it will be one of the hottest topics of the off-season.

His unequivocal response served as a timely statement to coach Cameron Ciraldo, one of the 650 guests sitting in the audience: five-eighth.

“Yeah, I think he knows where I want to play and what my best position is,” Burton said.

“It was a good night out there, obviously fundraising money for the school, good to get up and speak in front of everyone. He knows that I wanna play there.”

Burton, a Canterbury co-captain alongside Reed Mahoney, will play wherever the coach requires him. But to ensure there was no doubt about where his preference lies, the former Panther reiterated his wish to remain in the halves when speaking to Ciraldo on Tuesday.

“Even speaking to him yesterday, I just said to him that I wanna play five-eighth,” he said.

“I’ve got a few things to work on in fixing my game. If I can do that, then I’m heading in the right direction.”

So where does Burton provide the Bulldogs with the most bang for the buck?

The case has been made for Burton to return to the centres, the position he won a premiership in with the Panthers. The 23-year-old has also represented NSW and Australia as a three-quarter.

However, Burton doesn’t buy into suggestions he is more likely to add to his representative tally by moving out of the halves.

“Not necessarily,” he said. “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.

“I’ve obviously played there at centre before. It’s always a privilege to wear [representative] jerseys.

“I’m striving to get back there, so it’s all good.”

Ciraldo’s decision shapes as one critical to Canterbury’s success. The coach has Toby Sexton, Drew Hutchison, Kurt Mann, Blake Taafe and Jaeman Salmon as halves options, while it’s likely another play-making utility, Cronulla’s Connor Tracey, could shift to Belmore. Weighing into Ciraldo’s thinking is how best to utilise Burton’s running and kicking game, as well as how to showcase the talents of the other players in his roster.

By his own admission, Burton said he didn’t deliver consistently enough last season.

“Last year there were stages in the game where I needed to stand up, and I didn’t really provide that,” he said.

“So, I think this year if I can work on those little areas, then it’s gonna help the team in a way.”

Burton has an opinion on not only his position but who should also slot in alongside him in the halves.

“Toby Sexton, at the moment, is showing really good signs. We played some good footy there at the back end of the year,” Burton said.

“He’s training in the house down, we’ve got a good combo there. He’s killing it.”

Burton feels he is at a point in his life when he added responsibility will be the making of him. As well as wanting to call the shots on the field as a playmaker and captain, he is enjoying it off the field as a father to four-month-old Noah.

“As soon as I come home from footy, it’s into dad life,” he said.

 

[Magic Burton]

Maybe but it's a bit shit we've got to go to these sort of lengths to try and motivate someone that's meant to be a leader in the squad. I don't think Ciraldo has he balls to start him anywhere else other than 5/8. Maybe as the season progresses he might be "forces" into making a change.

@TheSexDogs if the job of Gould or Ciraldo ever becomes on the line Burton will be moved to Centre quicker than you know it.

 

[Kiwipup]

Can I suggest that it might be a tactic to publically tell Matt that he can't be complacent?

Do we honestly think that Mason got approved to broadcast that information?

Mason isn't the sharpest tool in the shed

 

[bcmf]

‘I want to play five-eighth’: Burton eyes Blues’ No.6 jersey
The Sydney Morning Herald

At a black-tie sportsman’s dinner for St Gregory’s College Campbelltown last Friday, Matt Burton was asked which was his preferred playing position.

It was a timely question, given that it will be one of the hottest topics of the off-season.

His unequivocal response served as a timely statement to coach Cameron Ciraldo, one of the 650 guests sitting in the audience: five-eighth.

“Yeah, I think he knows where I want to play and what my best position is,” Burton said.

“It was a good night out there, obviously fundraising money for the school, good to get up and speak in front of everyone. He knows that I wanna play there.”

Burton, a Canterbury co-captain alongside Reed Mahoney, will play wherever the coach requires him. But to ensure there was no doubt about where his preference lies, the former Panther reiterated his wish to remain in the halves when speaking to Ciraldo on Tuesday.

“Even speaking to him yesterday, I just said to him that I wanna play five-eighth,” he said.

“I’ve got a few things to work on in fixing my game. If I can do that, then I’m heading in the right direction.”

So where does Burton provide the Bulldogs with the most bang for the buck?

The case has been made for Burton to return to the centres, the position he won a premiership in with the Panthers. The 23-year-old has also represented NSW and Australia as a three-quarter.

However, Burton doesn’t buy into suggestions he is more likely to add to his representative tally by moving out of the halves.

“Not necessarily,” he said. “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.

“I’ve obviously played there at centre before. It’s always a privilege to wear [representative] jerseys.

“I’m striving to get back there, so it’s all good.”

Ciraldo’s decision shapes as one critical to Canterbury’s success. The coach has Toby Sexton, Drew Hutchison, Kurt Mann, Blake Taafe and Jaeman Salmon as halves options, while it’s likely another play-making utility, Cronulla’s Connor Tracey, could shift to Belmore. Weighing into Ciraldo’s thinking is how best to utilise Burton’s running and kicking game, as well as how to showcase the talents of the other players in his roster.

By his own admission, Burton said he didn’t deliver consistently enough last season.

“Last year there were stages in the game where I needed to stand up, and I didn’t really provide that,” he said.

“So, I think this year if I can work on those little areas, then it’s gonna help the team in a way.”

Burton has an opinion on not only his position but who should also slot in alongside him in the halves.

“Toby Sexton, at the moment, is showing really good signs. We played some good footy there at the back end of the year,” Burton said.

“He’s training in the house down, we’ve got a good combo there. He’s killing it.”

Burton feels he is at a point in his life when he added responsibility will be the making of him. As well as wanting to call the shots on the field as a playmaker and captain, he is enjoying it off the field as a father to four-month-old Noah.

“As soon as I come home from footy, it’s into dad life,” he said.

someone tell burto it ain’t about what he wants, it’s what the coaches want and what he can deliver. lol.

he’s had 1yr to make the position his? I dunno man. He’s not a half in my eyes, just seems too dumb / not smart and not vocal. Listen to Cleary, Cronk and Joey talk about the game, I have never heard burto talk like that. Maybe he can. Not sure.

Moving him to centre is absolute stupidity. If he’s not gonna do it in 5 8 ship him off. The more you chop and change his position here, we’ll end up with another Moses mbye.