Canterbury have declined Penrith's first trade offer that would see Matt Burton head to Belmore a year prior to his pending move, with former Maroon Dylan Napa involved in the Panthers' request.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the Bulldogs turned down the Panthers revised offer after Burton's agent David Riolo stated his client should be granted an early release from his contract.
While Penrith are standing firm on holding Burton, there is room for a prompt move should the Bulldogs offer a suitable player in return, with Napa in the sights of the Panthers.
Napa remains unsigned at the Bulldogs past 2021 and could return to his best football in a move to the premiership favourites, with the Canterbury prop missing out on an Origin selection last year for the first time since 2017.
While Napa would land as a suitable successor to the departed James Tamou at Penrith, Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett is hoping to retain the 28-year-old past this season, where the club will gain Burton and Storm star Josh Addo-Carr.
According to The Telegraph, Penrith haven't found much interest in other players currently listed with the Bulldogs, meaning any chance of an early release for Burton would lie on Napa's future at Belmore.
Not sure about Napa? He was alright at the Roosters. Now no one remembers him, as he’s been virtually invisible at the Dogs.
Still, stick to your guns Panthers, if you want to get Napa there. The Bulldogs will come around . As Barrett doesn’t want to start there with a really poor season. As he has no decent 5/8th available.
The fact that the Bulldogs hadn’t bothered trying to re-sign Napa already, says all that needs to be said about his real playing future at the Dogs.
They were trying to poach Leniu from Penrith as well for prop. He was to replace Napa.
Barrett is getting desperate. I love this.
Perhaps he could trade his plastic chairs from Narrabeen!
If the chairs are rare diamond encrusted collectables, worth $500,000-$600,000 ? That may be possible Dempsey.
Of course the Dogs could just pay a transfer fee to Penrith for this season, to get Burton there. A transfer fee of about $600,000 should do it! That’s less than they’ll actually be paying Burton for each season. A transfer fee that the Panthers should be allowed to spend buying any players, within their salary cap. Sounds Fair!