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

[KLil]

Let the mind fcuking begin.

 

[DinkumDog]

Never forget that one of Gusses first moves was to top up Burtons contract “just cos”

First moves?
Gould joined the club in July 2021.
Burton was extended in January 2023.
So you’re saying he did nothing for 18 months.
Onya Flipper .

 

[CMP]

We aren't winning shit with overpaid centres and bargain bin signings in the spine.

That’s not the argument. He and every other player in the squad is signed for whatever they signed for. What they are getting paid is fucking irrelevant. That deal is done and we have live with the consequences. What we need to do is pick the best team. Burton at 5/8 was not good last year. Burton at 7 was appalling last year.

Outside of Burton. We have Xerri and Crichton as our only NRL level centres and Crichton looks a lock-in for fullback so a Burton/Xerri is a better option than Burton at 6 with anyone else filling in as a centre. When everyone else are wingers.

 

[CrittaMagic69]

That’s not the argument. He and every other player in the squad is signed for whatever they signed for. What they are getting paid is fucking irrelevant. That deal is done and we have live with the consequences. What we need to do is pick the best team. Burton at 5/8 was not good last year. Burton at 7 was appalling last year.

Outside of Burton. We have Xerri and Crichton as our only NRL level centres and Crichton looks a lock-in for fullback so a Burton/Xerri is a better option than Burton at 6 with anyone else filling in as a centre. When everyone else are wingers.

What they're getting paid isn't irrelevant and is partly why we're in the situation we currently are. If Burton moves to centre and Crichton flops at fullback that's going to be a monumental fuck up by the club. This is why some found are critical of Gus' handling of the NRL roster yet so many are more than happy to make excuses.

 

[SexBomb]

Hard to argue 1st year players imo. Was Kiraz noticeably better than 2022?

Understandable, leaving a comparison compared to their prior season and expectations for them expressed by those running the show as the only reasonable option.

 

[SexBomb]

Why not bulk Burton up a bit and run him as a Lock Fittler style?

 

[bradyk]

That’s not the argument. He and every other player in the squad is signed for whatever they signed for. What they are getting paid is fucking irrelevant. That deal is done and we have live with the consequences. What we need to do is pick the best team. Burton at 5/8 was not good last year. Burton at 7 was appalling last year.

Outside of Burton. We have Xerri and Crichton as our only NRL level centres and Crichton looks a lock-in for fullback so a Burton/Xerri is a better option than Burton at 6 with anyone else filling in as a centre. When everyone else are wingers.

value in the cap is literally everything. We're up against teams whose rosters are worth much more than ours. Burton was signed on half money, Crichton was signed on fullback money. We signed Cotric on centre money. DWZ on fullback money, etc. I think you get the point.

 

[KiwiDog7]

I doubt Burton is moved from 6

It’s the DT running this article btw

Context

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Why not bulk Burton up a bit and run him as a Lock Fittler style?

Shit ball player

 

[DogsOfWar1704]

Stats going back to 29/6/2019, when he made his NSW debut.

Never played wing.

link: Matt Burton - Playing Career - Positions - RLP (rugbyleagueproject.org)

View attachment 94593

Played wing in lower grades I’m pretty sure

 

[SexBomb]

Shit ball player

A step lower than a 6 might be what he can cope with?

 

[Magic Burton]

I don’t get all the rage. Trials are 3 months away. You don’t pick your team after 1 week of preseason when the whole squad isn’t back.

How many Bulldogs articles in the last few years in the telegraph have ended up being true…

If Gus denies the Burton move to centre you know it’s true. And he will leak it to some journo like he’s done tonight about SST.

 

[ElMagicElMasri]

Lower tier teams and juniors have always been strong. The coaching and improvement once they get to NRL is the issue. Add to this recruitment, retention, management, leadership and player position identification as equally as big issues as coaching and player improvement. They’ve got Oloapu position wrong, putting Perham at fullback before Averillo and now a virtual admittance Burton as a 5/8 is wrong.

@04 Dreaming The strength of the club actually has been juniors and lower grades.

yes as I said it’s been a disaster but it’s a sunk cost now, the quicker we admit our mistakes the quicker we can start to progress

 

[Magic Burton]

Averillo and that's why we couldn't afford to retain him.

Correct. Averillo improved. They said Quai Ward has better stats.

 

[CrittaMagic69]

A step lower than a 6 might be what he can cope with?

I don't think so. He's better operating on the edges where it's simply run or catch pass to the winger.

 

[GoTheDoggies]

If we move Burton to centre I have no doubt JR will be ready to answer the call at 5/8.

 

[steeliz]

Played wing in lower grades I’m pretty sure

Funny.

Follow the link.

Lists every game, every player has player since forever.

 

[wendog33]

I doubt Burton is moved from 6

It’s the DT running this article btw

Context

Could be it's a leak to rev up Burto that nothings set in stone...you still have to earn your spot like everyone else?

 

[CMP]

What they're getting paid isn't irrelevant and is partly why we're in the situation we currently are. If Burton moves to centre and Crichton flops at fullback that's going to be a monumental fuck up by the club. This is why some found are critical of Gus' handling of the NRL roster yet so many are more than happy to make excuses.

I’m not arguing that the roster and wages getting paid are out of whack. We are in the position we are in and cannot do anything about it.

I am simply saying. How does persisting with Burton at 6. Purely because of his contract when he clearly struggles there?

He is much better in the centres from a winning the game point of view. Agree our squad management and paying players too much is something that needs fixing. We are in this mess but have to play players where we have the best chance of winning games. Money getting paid cannot come into it on team selections. Pick the team with the best chance of winning. Pretty fucking simple.

 

[billy beane]

huh? burton was originally a centre and a very good one.

Been a 5/8 his entire career .... the stint in the centers at Penrith was his only time playing the position.

Junior reps at Penrith and NSW under 19's at 5/8.