Matt Burton Offered More Than $1.2 Million a Season by the Perth Bears, as the Bulldogs Say He’d Play Centre
The Perth Bears have offered Matt Burton a three-year deal worth more than $1.2 million a season, the Sydney Morning Herald reported, and a decision on his future is expected within days.
The Bears can pay that much because of a new marquee allowance: a club sponsor can top up one marquee player’s pay without it counting on the salary cap.
What the Bears told him
“He’s a marquee player, so we would be looking to use that allowance,” Bears general manager of football Gareth Holmes told the Herald. “[Burton] spent time with us on the weekend, we showed him around town. Now he knows about our interest, it’s up to him and his manager to weigh up what the options are.”
“We’re hoping to find out something from him at the back end of this week. If not, early next week.”
Five-eighth or centre
The Bulldogs have offered about $850,000 a season with a ratchet clause, Brent Read reported. The catch is where he plays. Canterbury have made clear that if Burton stays, he plays in the centres.
Perth would play him at five-eighth, next to his former Bulldogs halves partner Toby Sexton. “They have played together and enjoyed some success when they did. It’s something that would be advantageous to us,” Holmes said.
2027 or 2028
The offer is for 2028, but Holmes did not rule out an earlier start. “It’s something we’d like to look at, but a lot of things would need to happen,” he said. “We would definitely be open to it and definitely interested.” Burton would decide on 2028 first and only then talk about an early release.
The Bears are building fast. Corey Horsburgh and Morgan Smithies are joining from Canberra, which is why the Raiders want Moses Leota, and coach Mal Meninga has named Sam Walker as one of his three targets.
