Oldpanther
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How about a Bulldogs legend!Ok I’m not a junkie but c’mon man give us some news about Burton please...I’m hanging even if a new story rehashed will do
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‘Stupid to let him go’: Anasta weighs in on Dogs’ standoff with Panthers over Burton
Bulldogs legend Braith Anasta knows the Bulldogs are pushing hard for young gun Matt Burton for 2021, but he can’t see the Panthers letting him leave any time soon.
The 20-year-old is set to join former Panthers assistant and new Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett at Belmore in 2022, but is caught in a tug of war between the two clubs this season.
“The Panthers would be stupid to let go of him because you need depth and if one of your big guns in Cleary or Luai go down, you’ve got arguably the best back-up half in the competition coming through,” Anasta told Foxsports.com.au.
“You would be silly to offload him right? It is a long year. You are going to have injuries. They didn’t have many last year, which is why they did so well, but if you do they want to be ready.”
Burton has scored three tries in six games for the Panthers since his debut in 2019, but has been told he is vying for a spot in the centres in 2021.
However with Cleary and Luai in the halves and Brent Naden and Stephen Crichton in the centres an injury looks to be the only way Burton can break into the starting team.
Anasta revealed the Bulldogs are trying everything at their disposal to lure Burton to the club early, but concedes it will be a very difficult task.
“I know for a fact the Bulldogs are hunting him hard and they want him now,” Anasta said.
“They have got some artillery there and some power and they could make it happen and if I was the Bulldogs I would be saying go and do it, but good luck!”
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary would prefer to keep Burton as an insurance policy should one of his stars go down or need a rest in a long 25-round regular season.
“Possibly if they get to the end of the Origin period and they are fit and healthy they could let him go,” Anasta said.
“But if I’m the Panthers, I’m not letting him go and if I’m the Bulldogs I’m doing everything I can to get him and that is what is happening right now.
“Time will tell, but the key is the Panthers and whether they let him go or not. The power is in their hands.”