Bulldogs' GM Phil Gould's $1M fight to keep Burton.
Multiple $1 million contracts will be waiting for Matt Burton when he returns from the World Cup - a figure that will blow Canterbury’s current offer out of the water.
If Phil Gould wants to lock up Matt Burton for the long term then the Bulldogs’ general manager better get ready to dig deep.
While most seem to be anticipating that Burton will end up staying at Canterbury to play under Cameron Ciraldo beyond 2023, it can be revealed rivals are still lining up to register their interest and make sure Burton is at least offered his market value.
And the fact is Burton will return from the World Cup in the coming weeks as rugby league’s next million dollar man in waiting.
Burton, 22, is on a reported $500,000 for this season but is tipped to command north of $1 million-a-season no matter where he signs to play in 2024.
It was speculated recently that the man with the biggest boot in the NRL was set to sign a four-year extension to stay at the Dogs worth $3 million ($750,000-a-season) - but that is well short of what Burton will realistically get.
In the wake of Cameron Munster recommitting to the Melbourne Storm, Burton has taken over top billing as the most wanted five-eighth still on the market for the 2024 NRL season.
That’s even ahead of the likes of South Sydney’s Cody Walker and Parramatta’s Dylan Brown who are also negotiating new deals.
It’s no secret that the Storm were ready to go after Burton if they didn’t secure Munster.
Naturally battling clubs like the Wests Tigers and Newcastle always get thrown up as possible destinations when players are looking to up their price.
But Burton is such an outrageously gifted talent that he would walk into pretty much any side in the comp, while still commanding top dollar even if he wanted to chase a premiership at one of the top clubs.
Burton’s agent David Riolo did not want to speculate about those possibilities but confirmed other clubs had already made their interest known.
Riolo was very careful not to disrespect the Bulldogs, and said at this stage he didn’t want it to become a distraction while Burton was in England on Australian duties.
“Matt is obviously overseas enjoying his first World Cup and as soon as he is back we will sort through it,” Riolo said.
“He is happy at the Dogs.
“He likes the new coach and he gets on with everyone there, so there is no issue for him at Canterbury.”
He would not go into detail about outside interest he had already received.
“I don’t want to speculate,” he said.
“Look, I understand there is a lot of interest and we will work through that.”
Asked if the deal was likely to be done before next season, Riolo added: “Generally with a player of his calibre and someone on the salary he is going to command those deals are done in good time because clubs need to know budgets.
“And if you have Matt Burton in your budget and you don’t get him, well, you have got a fair bit of money to spend, don’t you?
“So you can’t wait to the end of the year obviously because there won’t be any money left in people’s caps.
“He is a good kid. He is happy where he is.
“There is no reason why the Dogs won’t have a good shot at him.
“But it’s just he’s got to work through the process.” (DT)