NRL 2021: Ivan Cleary insists Matt Burton will stay at Panthers after failed trade deal with Bulldogs

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary insists Matt Burton remains an integral part of the Panthers squad, despite the club offering the Bulldogs a trade deal involving the young star.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary. Picture: Brett Costello

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has declared Bulldog-in-waiting Matt Burton as an integral part of his 2021 title campaign, seemingly shutting the door on a release this season.

The Daily Telegraph revealed that Canterbury had rejected an approach from the Panthers to take Dylan Napa as a trade for Burton in on-going conversations between the club.

But Cleary said the two parties have not been able to come to a mutual agreement over the playmaker’s potential release and it was unlikely the Bulldogs could do anything to lure Burton to Belmore.

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“I have said all along that Matt is a very valuable member of our squad, we really value him as a person and as a player,” Cleary said.

“If you keep getting asked, which we have, they [Canterbury] keep asking the question ... I suppose there is always something that could happen that might make a deal happen but realistically there hasn’t been.

Matt Burton is hoping to be at the Bulldogs in 2021, a season earlier than expected.

“I’m not sure what the fuss has been because our view hasn’t changed since last year. He’s a part of our team and there has never been any inkling that he is going to leave this year.”

But in a sign the Panthers had been willing to investigate letting Burton go one season early, Napa was recently identified as a possible solution for both clubs. Canterbury quickly knocked that player swap on the head.

The loss of two experienced middle-forwards in captain James Tamou to the Wests Tigers and Kiwi Test forward Zane Tetevano to Leeds has left Penrith officials eager to solidify their pack with another big man before the 2021 season kick-off.

The club would only release Burton immediately, who has signed a contract with Canterbury from 2022, if they were able to obtain a player of value in return.

Napa, the former Queensland Origin prop, is off-contract at the Dogs at the end of this season and a move to Penrith has the potential for him to not only increase his chances of playing finals football in 2021 with one of the competition heavyweights, but potentially prolong his NRL career.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary insists Matt Burton will be part of Penrith’s team in 2021. Picture: Brett Costello

Napa’s huge 198cm, 113kg frame in addition to his NRL experience of more than 150 first-grade games is appealing to the Panthers as they strive to keep open their premiership window.

However, new Dogs coach Trent Barrett was quick to quash the interest during conversations with the Panthers last week.

Like Penrith, Barrett has a similar view of Napa’s value to the Dogs as the club continues to rebuild in 2021.

Barrett confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that Napa was integral to his plans for the upcoming season.

At this stage, the Panthers have no interest in any other player at the Dogs, meaning Burton’s ambition to join Canterbury immediately could be mute unless the Napa move gains traction.

Dylan Napa is considered a key player for the Bulldogs.

‘LET HIM GO’: ANOTHER YOUNG PANTHER WANTS OUT

- Paul Crawley

Bulldog-in-waiting Matt Burton “100 per cent” wants out of Penrith to join Trent Barrett at Canterbury immediately.

And in a stunning development to one of the NRL off-season’s simmering storylines, his agent David Riolo has appealed to the Panthers to “let him go now”.

The gifted Dubbo junior has long been recognised as one of the game’s most exciting emerging talents.

But Burton’s NRL career has stalled as he continues to be stuck behind Jarome Luai in Penrith’s five-eighth pecking order.

Riolo also revealed Burton was told he’d be playing for a centre spot this year.

But now the Panthers have done a swap deal with Wests Tigers to bring in Paul Momirovski in exchange for Daine Laurie’s release on the weekend.

It just makes Burton’s hopes of playing NRL this year even more unlikely.

Matt Burton’s manager says he wants out of Penrith now. Picture: Getty Images.

“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.”

When asked if Burton wanted out, Riolo was clear: “100 per cent.”

But for some reason it appears Burton has become the pawn in a bigger power play between the two clubs.

It’s no secret Burton has already committed his future to the Dogs for three seasons from 2022.

Of course, Barrett was Ivan Cleary’s assistant last season on their charge to the grand final, but there seems no love lost now.

Behind the scenes the Bulldogs have been hoping for months that Penrith would release Burton at some point.

Riolo says it’s time for everyone to make it happen.

Burton has already signed with the Bulldogs for 2022, but Trent Barrett wants him at Belmore early. Picture: Bulldogs Digital.

“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.”

Riolo explained the soon to be 21-year-old had been treading water all summer: “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.”

While it has been assumed all summer that a deal will be ultimately cut between the clubs before the new season kicks off, it just continues to drag on.

Riolo conceded talks continue to bubble along but only Penrith can make it happen.