Maybe Burton goes to half. Not sure I see it, but it is a strange signing (this young kid from the Broncos).
I’m not sure I see the Dogs being that great this year. The backs (outside JAC) don’t fill you with dread, while the middle rotation looks one of the weaker in the league. I think Burton is still a few years away from being a top notch half (if he ever gets there; my opinion but I have said a few times he needs to take some risks and widen his game). The back row will be good when in good ball positions and 2021 Mahoney is one of the best hookers in the game (but it seemed that in 2022 teams worked out that if you make him make a lot of tackles it blunts his effectiveness; why a pro athlete smokes I will never know). My view is they don’t make a 2023 8; of the teams that didn’t make it I feel the Broncos, Manly and maybe even the Tigers are more interesting bets. No team in the 8 last year looks to have become materially worse with the exception of the Storm, who are maybe 1 to 2 bad injuries away from sliding out of the 8.
Does it improve in 2024; Critta will make a difference (more guaranteed at centre than FB) and the wildcards are how Xerri comes back and Burton develops. But it is possible to see they are 1 to 2 middles away from being strong.