Bulldogs star Matt Burton has declared five-eighth is his greatest place forward of the 2024 season, however it stays unclear who he’ll associate within the halves.
The 23-year-old silenced rumours Canterbury-Bankstown coaches had been contemplating switching him to the centres in November 2023 after stories urged the transfer was on the playing cards.
Burton thrived within the centres for the premiership-winning Panthers in 2021 and even made his Origin debut alongside new teammate Stephen Crichton in 2022.
Watch sport this summer season reside with no advert breaks in play on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and begin streaming immediately >
Now Burton has doubled down on his need to play five-eighth when requested by foxsports.com.au if that function is the place he can do essentially the most harm.
“I think so, I’ve been working really hard on it this pre-season and want to knuckle down and have a good year,” he stated.
“I’d like to start at five-eighth, that’s my main goal. But if I get put into the centres or wherever I’m happy to do what’s best for the side.”
Former Titans halfback Toby Sexton arrived at Belmore in a mid-season change in 2023, turning into Burton’s halves associate for seven video games.
However, he now faces stiff competitors from Roosters veteran Drew Hutchison whose utility worth earnt him comparisons to Tricolours legend Mitchell Aubusson.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson final yr hailed Hutchison’s abilities in quite a lot of positions following his facet’s early season 28-20 win over the Eels.
“He’s a halfback, and he plays half and five-eighth and then he plays lock and then he plays centre,” Robinson stated.
Now each Sexton and Hutchison are vying for the Bulldogs’ No.7 jersey in 2024 and the pair have been coaching within the place alongside Burton.
“We’ve still been swapping and changing our roles and Drewy (Hutchison) and Toby (Sexton) have both been going well,” Burton stated.
“We will have to wait and see what happens… I feel like I’ve built a good connection with the halves who have stepped in each time we’ve changed the combos.
“We are all just gelling together and it is all coming together.
MORE NRL NEWS
FOUR YEAR NRL WILDERNESS: Dogs lifeline has ‘comeback kid’ ready to explode
‘IT’S A MENTAL THING’: Eels star admits career plagued by ‘inconsistency’ to date
‘PERFECT FIT FOR ME’: Fonua-Blake opens up on Sharks move, Warriors promise
‘NO CONFLICT’: Tigers boss denies wrongdoing over signing player managed by son
Xerri ‘grateful’ for NRL return at Dogs | 00:45
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
“(Hutchison) has been great for us, as you said the experience helps and he’s an older head so he helps the younger boys out.
“He brings a lot to the team as well, he’s got a great kicking game and takes a lot of pressure off the halves as well.”
The Bulldogs will likely be determined to enhance on their fifteenth place end in 2023, with their defensive efforts beneath the highlight in pre-season.
Cameron Ciraldo’s facet had the worst defensive file within the competitors and leaked 769 factors, 94 greater than the Tigers who gained the wood spoon.
Burton defined that defence has been a giant focus for the Dogs in pre-season and in addition mirrored on his personal 2023 marketing campaign.
“Our defence really wasn’t up to standard last year, we leaked way too many points and you can’t do that against good sides,” Burton stated.
“They will punish you for it, that’s something we are really trying to knuckle down on this year is our defence. I feel like we are heading in the right direction.
“Not one of my best seasons personally, I feel like I could add a lot more value to the side and having a full pre-season under my belt was the main one for me last year.
“I missed out on last year’s pre-season and sort of floated into the season, so I feel a lot fitter this season.
“(I’ve been working on) little effort areas around my game, little supports and defence. I feel like I lacked (in those areas) last year.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
