Matt Burton's agent David Riolo has asked for the Panthers to release the rising star to Canterbury immediately.
The young gun has signed with the Bulldogs for 2022 and 2023 with a player option for a potential third season in a major coup for Trent Barrett's side.
One of the game's most exciting young players, Burton would be limited for first-grade opportunities at the Panthers in 2021.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Riolo believes it is a disservice to Burton not releasing him now.
"I am not upset with Penrith,” Riolo said.
"Penrith have been really good and developed the kid.But both parties should move on, it (will be) better for all of them. He will lose a year of first grade if he stays.”
Asked if Burton wanted a release, Riolo responded:"100 per cent."
Riolo said it would be best for all parties if the 20-year old was released now as Penrith could move on from a player that doesn't want to be there.
“In my opinion it is better if Matt Burton goes to the Bulldogs now,” he said.
“It is better for Matt Burton. It is better for Bulldogs. And it is better for Penrith because they remove a surplus player who doesn’t really want to be there.
“He wants to be somewhere else.”
He added that while Burton has trained with the top squad all pre-season, the young gun would rarely feature in the first grade this season.
“He trains with the top squad but he is not in the top team. He is surplus to their top team so let him go now.”
Burton has played six NRL games, including five in 2020, since making his debut in 2019.
Burton is making a massive mistake joining that basket case.
Penrith are still six players short of there 30 man squad. Only make such a deal to release him, if the Bulldogs will release one or two young players of Penrith’s choice, to go to Penrith.
Barrett would almost immediately say ‘YES’, to any such deal. As he knows the Bulldogs are still not looking so good in the halves , without Burton. So a year without him there, will most likely make Barrett look ordinary as a coach. Let’s face it, he’s already been there coaching a first grade side as head coach.
Just a question. Why do players signed to play at another club after one more season, always think it’s fine to ask for a release a year early? That’s a real problem, with how contracts are handled now.
Definitely the right choice. Bulldogs on the way up and Penrith will miss Barrett terribly. Good move for his career
League Fan75, have you being drinking already? Barrett is not a head grade coach.
Was your attacking coach and did an amazing job. Penrith will slide down the ladder without him, I have no doubt.
Penrith will 100% miss Barrett as they did previously. Don’t write him off as a first grade coach, he knows rugby league and with the right people around him and a decent playing roster good things will happen. Players that sign elsewhere with time left on their contact should sort out a deal to leave. Tyson Frizell didn’t perform wanting to be at the knights and I fear for Cam McInnes thinking ahead for the Sharks. Burton should go if Penrith can work out a deal. Club transfer fees for developed juniors come to mind. That said, salary cap relief for “your” juniors should also be part of the system.
Out-Of-Puff, no we won’t.
Out-Of-Puff…
Spot on with ‘ salary cap relief ‘ ( available to clubs to keep players they’ve developed ) & ‘ transfer fees ‘. ( paid to clubs , who have players poached away from them that they’ve developed ).
Didn’t the Roosters pay South’s $50,000 to get Suaalii early?
Pay up Dogs! Except it should be $100,000. To be used in any way that the Panthers wish. Including, as extra money available to them to spend under the cap. $100,000 , as Burton has been developed to first grade level.
Barrett? Let’s see.. He wasn’t the first grades main coach.
Penrith didn’t win the GF either. So what happened there? Or is that now the main coaches fault?
Barrett didn’t go well at St.George or at Manly. Especially in defence!
The Jury must still be out on his real coaching skills.
It seems that I was spot on, with Penrith asking for a player swap with the Bulldogs. To allow Burton to go a year early. Still say, they should ask for two young players. As does Barrett want to start 2021 , without Burton? No way!