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Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo pulled a big switch ahead of his side’s Round 8 clash, shifting Matt Burton to halfback instead of his natural five-eighth role.
Ciraldo said he wanted his marquee man to ball in hand more often, hoping to spark the Bulldogs’ lacklustre attack.
As it stands, Canterbury-Bankstown have only scored more points than the Tigers and Roosters with 127.
However, Ciraldo thought his team were “dangerous” at different points despite going down 33-20 against the Sharks.
“I thought we looked good at times, I thought we looked dangerous, every time we got the ball in Matt’s hands we looked dangerous,” Ciraldo said.
“We are still a work in progress there.
The spine has played eight games together so we are still trying to work it out and we are missing some players.
“I thought it was an improvement in the last couple of weeks.”
Burton also echoed his coach’s opinion but explained his team lack the killer blow.
“I just wanted to get the ball in my hands a bit more, I thought we just lacked in periods of the game when we could have gone after it,” Burton said.
Ciraldo’s late switch could signal a shift in the halves, with Burton’s halves partner Kyle Flanagan under pressure.
There were rumblings young gun Karl Oloapu was set to make his NRL debut in Flanagan’s place, however Ciraldo decided against unleashing the 18-year-old.
Rugby league supremo Phil Gould poached the promising playmaker from the Broncos, paying a $500,000 transfer fee to secure his services.
Flanagan’s current contract expires at the end of the 2023 season and the Bulldogs have reportedly made attempts to move the halfback on in the past.
The 24-year-old’s contract is reportedly worth $450,000 per-season and the Belmore-based club could use those funds to hit the open market to find a suited halves partner for Matt Burton.
If Ciraldo perseveres with Burton’s halfback switch long-term, Gould could go after a five-eighth.
However not many suitable players are available for 2024 and Oloapu could be the Bulldogs’ best option.
Across the NRL, playmakers Shaun Johnson, Jayden Nikorima, Kaeo Weekes, Adam Clune and Jack Cogger are without a contract for 2023.
Meanwhile, Tigers outcast Daine Laurie’s contract also expires and the former Panther played as a five-eighth during his junior career.
Ciraldo said he wanted his marquee man to ball in hand more often, hoping to spark the Bulldogs’ lacklustre attack.
As it stands, Canterbury-Bankstown have only scored more points than the Tigers and Roosters with 127.
However, Ciraldo thought his team were “dangerous” at different points despite going down 33-20 against the Sharks.
“I thought we looked good at times, I thought we looked dangerous, every time we got the ball in Matt’s hands we looked dangerous,” Ciraldo said.
“We are still a work in progress there.
The spine has played eight games together so we are still trying to work it out and we are missing some players.
“I thought it was an improvement in the last couple of weeks.”
Burton also echoed his coach’s opinion but explained his team lack the killer blow.
“I just wanted to get the ball in my hands a bit more, I thought we just lacked in periods of the game when we could have gone after it,” Burton said.
Ciraldo’s late switch could signal a shift in the halves, with Burton’s halves partner Kyle Flanagan under pressure.
There were rumblings young gun Karl Oloapu was set to make his NRL debut in Flanagan’s place, however Ciraldo decided against unleashing the 18-year-old.
Rugby league supremo Phil Gould poached the promising playmaker from the Broncos, paying a $500,000 transfer fee to secure his services.
Flanagan’s current contract expires at the end of the 2023 season and the Bulldogs have reportedly made attempts to move the halfback on in the past.
The 24-year-old’s contract is reportedly worth $450,000 per-season and the Belmore-based club could use those funds to hit the open market to find a suited halves partner for Matt Burton.
If Ciraldo perseveres with Burton’s halfback switch long-term, Gould could go after a five-eighth.
However not many suitable players are available for 2024 and Oloapu could be the Bulldogs’ best option.
Across the NRL, playmakers Shaun Johnson, Jayden Nikorima, Kaeo Weekes, Adam Clune and Jack Cogger are without a contract for 2023.
Meanwhile, Tigers outcast Daine Laurie’s contract also expires and the former Panther played as a five-eighth during his junior career.
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