Judging by Ivan’s comments yesterday, he is not relenting to the media pressure about releasing Burton this season. And plans to play him at left centre in next weeks trial if Crichton hasn’t overcome his ankle injury.
Even Burtons comment seems like he has resigned himself to his fate of staying at the Panthers in 2020.
Totally happy if that’s the way it plays out this season. We can cover our other roster gaps without needing to trade Burton to do it.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nr...r-naden-trial-appearance-20210220-p574bu.html
Meanwhile, Burton spent an hour at left centre and Cleary said he will play there against Parramatta next Saturday should Stephen Crichton fail to overcome a niggling ankle injury. The coach said Api Koroisau was the only other player who was a chance to skip the Eels hit-out.
Burton has made plenty of headlines with the Bulldogs determined to have the playmaker at their club before the start of this season.
Cleary has repeatedly said Burton will be staying put in his final year at the club, and reiterated “just go to the archives and look at what I’ve said”.
″He covers some key spots for us, including the halves - nothing has changed there,” Cleary said.
Burton told The Sun-Herald: “I’d like to play in the halves, that’s my preferred position, but I’m enjoying it at centre at the moment and I’m learning.
When pressed if he wanted to be at Penrith this season, Burton said: “Yeah, for sure. There’s been a lot of noise. I can only focus on working hard and doing my job.
“By the looks of it I’m here. I just want to play footy at the end of the day. I’d like to be in the starting team every week.”