The Bulldogs have been urged to give Matt Burton more clarity on his future after the star five-eighth enjoyed his best game of the season in last week’s win over the Storm.
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Burton, who was called into NSW Blues camp after Mitchell Moses went down injured, was near-impossible to stop last Friday with 15 runs for 213 metres, nine tackle busts and two linebreaks.
It was proof of just how damaging a ball-runner Burton can be, but the breakout performance begged the question: where has this been all season long?
And perhaps more importantly, has Burton’s clouded future influenced his inconsistent form in 2026?
Burton is one of the most dangerous running five-eighths in the competition and actually averages over 100 metres per game, which easily leads all five-eighths in the NRL with Cameron Munster (69.8) the next closest.
It is part of the reason why a permanent move to centre would make sense, but his performance against Melbourne and subsequent Blues call-up was also a reminder of why Burton could still be the long-term answer at five-eighth.
The Bulldogs just don’t seem to feel the same way based on GM Phil Gould’s comments last week, where he openly admitted Lachlan Galvin is likely not the team’s future halfback.
Foxsports.com.au columnist Paul Crawley said all the noise surrounding Burton’s future and the moving pieces in the halves must be unsettling.
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“They were talking about Burton’s future and the discussion (of) will we keep him? Is he on the money if he plays five-eighth?” Crawley said on ‘NRL 360’.
“If he moves into the centre naturally he won’t be on as much money. Obviously there are going to be other clubs looking at him. I think Matt Burton went out the other day and as good as Lachlan Galvin has the potential to be… at the moment Matt Burton is the best five-eighth at that club.
“He is also only 26 years of age. He’s received, from the outside looking in, little love this year. It’s almost like he’s being pushed out of the club and he showed on the weekend what he is capable of.
“I just wonder why would you turn your back on a player who has that in him?”
Code Sports reporter David Riccio took exception with that framing from Crawley, arguing it is not a case of the Bulldogs “turning their back” on Burton but wanting to transparent about the fact he is coming off-contract and that these conversations were always going to happen.
Former Bulldogs five-eighth Braith Anasta, however, said the fact these conversations are playing out in public can’t be good for Burton, irrespective of how “laid-back” he may be.
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“I think (all the changes) would have (affected him),” Anasta said.
“The Dogs are saying otherwise because he’s a laid-back character but being an ex five-eighth if you’re not sure where your future is and if you’re being told if you stay you’re most likely going to move positions and you’re not their preferred five-eighth but then you’re being called into the Blues camp as a five-eighth and then you’ve got a young half inside of you and they’re not even sure if he’s the right half or not, you’re going to second-guess at times and you’re going to struggle with it.
“You are human and I would say most other players in that position would think the same. It’s a lack of security and belief and faith and I know the Dogs fans and even the club will hate me for saying it but I’m just being honest.
“If I was him, I would have felt a little bit unwanted at times.”
Anasta did concede that the Bulldogs have every right to carefully consider Burton’s position at the club given his form has “not been good enough”
“But this situation has been a bit of a mess for a while,” he added.
“This is when he’s at his best. It’s very simple for him. He’s a quiet dude and that’s a problem too because in the halves you need to be vocal and dominant and he’s an experienced player.
“If he’s going to NSW camp, he’s got to bring that experience back and he’s got to lead like he did in this game every game. It kind of goes both ways but I do think it’d be tough for him.”