The Penrith Panthers have left the door slightly ajar for NSW State of Origin hero Matt Burton to return to the foot of the mountains.
The 22-year-old Canterbury star is free to talk to rival clubs from November and will join Melbourne Storm superstar
Cameron Munster as the most sought after players in the NRL.
Panthers group CEO Brian Fletcher refuses to rule out making a play for the boom five-eighth/centre.
“Sure we’d love to have him back,” Fletcher said. “But how do you fit him in the salary cap? That’s the problem. He’s a good bush kid who came through our system. We’re not saying we’re not going to look at it.”
Much will depend on talks with Origin stars Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o who, like Burton, are off contract at the end of next season.
If they were to leave for better money, it would open the cap space for Burton.
“We’ve already lost Api (Koroisau) and Billy Kikau for next year,” Fletcher said.
“We’d like to keep all of them but you can’t. With Matt Burton, I think he only signed at Canterbury for two years knowing he might want to come back at some stage.”
Burton renewed his combination with last year’s premiership-winning Penrith teammates with a stunning performance for NSW in Perth. He looked happy and at home with his old buddies.
Yet he is in no hurry to make a call. Burton wants to know of Canterbury’s coaching plans before making any decision, according to his agent David Riolo.
“My first question to Canterbury will be who’s going to be coaching,” Riolo said. “You can’t really move forward until that decision has been made. We haven’t heard anything.
“It’s no secret he went to the Bulldogs because of his relationship with Trent Barrett.
“That was the main factor. Trent’s not there, which is fine, that’s footy. You can’t lock yourself to a coach for your whole career.”
Riolo insists there is no urgency.
“I’ll sit down with Burto at the end of the season and go through all the options,” Riolo said. “He’s played himself into a really good position but there’s nothing urgent at the moment.
“He’s just a good country kid who’s pretty laid back
“He’s debuted really well in Origin but he’s got a decider in a couple of weeks.”