Fresh twist in Panthers tug of war

The Matt Burton saga is far from over.

After winning a feisty tug of war for his services this season, it seems Penrith hasn’t quite given up on the idea of their young star staying for a little longer.

After Burton signed a contract with Canterbury from next season, the undefeated Panthers made sure he stayed in Penrith for the current campaign, and now Penrith chief executive Brian Fletcher has delivered a shot at the Bulldogs in a statement of intent from the league leaders.

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“For his development and his future, he would be far better staying with us next year,” Fletcher told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“He’s a young bloke and his future would be assured here. He will keep climbing the ladder with us. I don’t know if that will be the case at the Bulldogs.

“One player can’t win games on his own.”

Matt Burton of the Panthers.Source:Getty Images

Burton agreed a two-year deal with the Bulldogs from 2022, but according to the report, the Panthers feel the 21-year-old is having “second thoughts” about leaving at the end of the year.

Not everyone at the club is reportedly “comfortable” with the idea of a Burton backflip.

The Herald reported Burton’s deal with the Bulldogs is worth $450,000 in 2022 and $500,000 in 2023 and that Penrith would, at very least, need to match that offer.

For Burton to renege on his Bulldogs deal, he would have to be granted a release by Canterbury.

“They (Bulldogs) wanted him to break his contract this year and had conversations with him about it,” Fletcher added.

“We just want the same opportunity to have the conversations with him now.

“He’s only young. His career wouldn’t have gone ahead as far if we hadn’t looked after him and developed him.”

Originally published asFresh twist in Panthers tug of war

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