Canterbury Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett is hopeful the signing of St John's junior Matt Burton can impact his club similarly to that of Kalyn Ponga at the Newcastle Knights.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Burton has been one of the most talked about players in the NRL this year.
The 21-year-old Dubbo product has starred during the Penrith Panthers' unbeaten start to the season while conjecture around his future has almost been non-stop.
During the off-season Burton signed a deal with Bulldogs to start in 2022 but Barrett, a former assistant at Penrith, and the Belmore club attempted to move the deal up and sign him for this year.
That was rejected by the Panthers and then only last week Penrith chief executive Brian Fletcher stated it would be better for Burton's development if he backflipped on his deal with the battling Dogs and stayed at the foot of the mountains.
READ ALSO:
Barrett wouldn't be drawn into any slinging match with Fletcher of the Panthers after his side's breakthrough win on Saturday night, instead singing the praises of Burton.
"I'm just happy for Matty. He's in first grade and playing well and we'll keep improving the joint so when he gets here he's going to walk into a really good club," Barrett said.
"This is a great club with a hell of a lot of history."
Saturday's win over Cronulla was the Bulldogs' first for the season but more is expected of the club from next season when players like Burton and NSW Origin star Josh Addo-Carr arrive.
Burton is set to immediately become a key player at Belmore and Barrett is hopeful he can boost things like young superstar Ponga did when he arrived at the Knights from North Queensland in 2018.
"I liken it a little bit to like when the Newcastle Knights signed Kayln Ponga," the coach said.
"We're getting a really good player in Burto, who I think is a future rep player and that's why I signed him 12 months ago."
The Bulldogs finished second from bottom last season and remain at the foot of the competition so far this year despite Saturday's much-needed win.
Barrett was emotional at full-time on Saturday night after seeing his side struggle for much of the campaign up to this point, but having seen a club bounce back from the tough times once before he knows it can happen again.
"I was at Penrith in 2011 and 2012 when we went through a similar sort of rebuild and it's hard," he said.
"Phil Gould put in a hell of a lot of things in place that they're reaping the benefits of now."
The Bulldogs next face the second-placed Parramatta while Burton and the unbeaten Panthers head west this weekend to take on Manly at Bathurst's Carrington Park.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
