Canterbury’s decision to switch skipper Stephen Crichton to five-eighth sets in motion a potentially season-saving run of games and the Bulldogs’ next contract puzzle with Matt Burton and Bronson Xerri.
Crichton was a surprise starter in the halves in Saturday’s gritty golden-point win over the high-flying Sea Eagles, which coach Cameron Ciraldo said afterwards was made in part to reduce Burton’s playmaking responsibilities.
The Bulldogs’ short turnaround to face the Titans on Friday has Ciraldo expected to play the same backline formation – pending how players recover – after Xerri was relegated to the bench against Manly without seeing any game time.
After just three victories from their first 10 matches, Canterbury have now won three of their past four, with winnable games against the Gold Coast (15th), Raiders (14th) and Tigers (10th) to come in the next month.
The Bulldogs’ attack has still struggled for impact in tense, low-scoring wins over Parramatta and Manly.
Lachlan Galvin scored a critical solo try and Crichton kicked the match-winning field goal against the Sea Eagles, but the latter believed he “overplayed” his hand slotting into the halves – largely shelving his running game for a distribution role on the left.
Burton, however, was much improved at centre, making 19 carries for 144 metres and handling the ball 28 times, a significant drop from the 49 touches he has averaged in the halves this season.
“We trained this for two weeks over the bye and I thought the way Burto trained over those two weeks, and the way he played, I thought he was brilliant,” Ciraldo said.
Whether Burton shifts permanently from the scrum base is a key facet in his next contract beyond 2027, though he has made clear to Canterbury hierarchy that he is not particularly fazed on what position he plays.
The Bulldogs and Burton are keen for him to stay at Belmore, but no extension offer has been tabled as yet.
Canterbury general manager Phil Gould referred to Burton’s potential market value – particularly as a marquee half in the sights of the Perth Bears – last month on The Bye Round podcast.
“Over the next 18 months we’ve got to work out what we pay Matt Burton,” Gould said, referencing what is typically a lower earning capacity playing at centre.
“If he plays centre, what are you going to pay him? If he plays five-eighth, what are you going to pay him? Well, he’s got some decisions to make.”
Xerri’s Bulldogs future will also come under renewed scrutiny should he remain on the outer given he and Gould had to clear the air when he was axed earlier this year, triggering reports he was unhappy and wanted out of the club.
No release request was sought by Xerri before he regained his NRL position, and Ciraldo praised his handling of Saturday night’s shake-up.
“Bronson’s good; he understands,” Ciraldo said. “His energy all week and all day on the bench was outstanding. He clearly put the team first, as disappointed as he would have been.
“We love Bronson, and he’s on a journey to find his best form. We saw it a couple of weeks ago against Melbourne, and we’d love to see more of it.
“Burto moving to left centre was part of it, but [right centre] Enari [Tuala] has been our best player all year hands down … that’s footy sometimes.”
Crichton’s move to five-eighth is Canterbury’s latest halves shift since Galvin’s arrival a year ago, with the flow-on effect throughout Ciraldo’s side a source of non-stop headlines and conjecture.
Injured playmaking prodigy Mitchell Woods remains the club’s long-term halfback priority, while Canterbury’s recent interest in Penrith’s Jesse McLean to replace the retiring Marcelo Montoya adds another moving piece to their roster machinations.
At this stage McLean is not seeking a pre-June 30 move. But the older brother of NSW Origin star Casey has been granted permission by the Panthers to move on at season’s end despite being contracted until the end of 2028. It is unclear if Penrith would chip in some of his salary at a new club.
