Matt Burton in brutal truth to critics ahead of 2023 NRL season
The Bulldogs star has declared he wants to play five-eighth in 2024.
Bulldogs playmaker Matt Burton has insisted he will fight for the No.6 jersey in 2024 amid reports the club could move him out to the centres, where he was deployed for the Panthers. At Penrith, Burton shone in the centres but he recently spoke to coach Cameron Ciraldo where he made it abundantly clear that five-eighth is where he wants to play.
“Even speaking to him yesterday, I just said to him that I wanna play five-eighth,” Burton told the SMH. “I’ve got a few things to work on in fixing my game. If I can do that, then I'm heading in the right direction.”
BRUTAL: Michael Maguire in Kiwis twist amid NSW Origin appointment
'RATTLED ME': Latrell's revelation about Sam Burgess amid injury claim
The Canterbury star's No.6 jersey has come under threat after the Dogs made a host of signings earlier this month, including utilities Kurt Mann and Drew Hutchinson, who have both played at five-eighth before. Burton admits that since moving to the Dogs he hasn't provided enough for the team, with the side finishing the season in 15th with only seven wins.
The playmaker, however, has high hopes for the upcoming season and says he will fight for the No.6 jersey. Burton was also full of praise for his potential halves partner Toby Sexton, who made a midseason switch from the Titans.
"Last year there were stages in the game where I needed to stand up, and I didn’t really provide that," he said. "So, I think this year if I can work on those little areas, then it’s gonna help the team in a way... Toby Sexton, at the moment, is showing really good signs. We played some good footy there at the back end of the year."
Burton wants to return to the Blues side in 2024
Despite a below-par season by his standards, Burton is keen to knuckle down and see a return to form in 2024. Burton hopes that with a stronger year, he could return to the Blues side in the halves or even the centres, where he made his representative debut. “I think if I can knuckle down and play my best footy at six, then I think that there might be a chance to play rep footy at six," Burton said.
The Blues have lost two series in a row to the Maroons, which prompted a shake-up with advisor Greg Alexander and coach Brad Fittler stepping away and Michael Maguire set to be handed the coaching job. Many pundits have called for a Blues shake-up which may help Burton return to the side under Maguire. Fittler came under heavy criticism following the back-to-back losses with several selection dramas marring his final series as coach.
Michael Maguire wants to lead NZ at the 2026 World Cup
Maguire took over the New Zealand side after a disastrous World Cup campaign in 2017 that ended with a loss to Fiji in the quarter-finals. The 49-year-old signed a contract extension to remain with New Zealand until the end of 2025 and says he's "fully focused" on the Kiwis, despite the NSW State of Origin speculation. "I am 100 per cent committed to the boys, we've done a lot of work to get to this point and I don't plan on anything getting in the way of what we're focused on." Maguire previously said.
However, reports suggest New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) are considering sacking Maguire due to a powerful group of ex-Kiwi players pushing for him to go. Maguire recently led the Kiwis to Pacific Championships glory, where they flogged the Kangaroos 30-0 in the final to be crowned champions.
It is understood former New Zealand representatives have voiced their concerns about how Maguire taking the Origin job will assist in the development of Australia’s rugby league talent, thus creating a conflict of interest as Australia is the Kiwi's biggest international rival.
The NZRL board are set to decide on his coaching future in the coming weeks, with Maguire expected to front the panel and plead his case. NZRL CEO Greg Peters said Maguire will get his chance to outline why he believes he should retain his job as Kiwis coach while also taking the job as Blues head coach.
Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.
