Penrith supplying a flood of NRL talent to its rivals, but will it force Matt Burton to leave the club?
He’s the rising Panthers playmaker playing second fiddle to two of the in-form halves of the competition. But sitting on the bench won’t force Matt Burton out of Penrith. Here’s why.
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If you build it they will come and in the case of rising Penrith playmaker Matt Burton, they will stay.
At least that’s what Panthers assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo is hoping.
News Corp Australia investigation with Fox Sports Lab has revealed the Panthers, along with Brisbane, provide the most talent in the NRL.
The Panthers have blooded 40 players who are active in the NRL, pipped only by the Broncos, who have given 41 players their debuts.
Panthers assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo said the club had spent years cultivating a production line rich with talent and an environment that players don’t want to leave.
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Ciraldo is confident the winning culture being forged at Penrith will help keep the in-demand Burton at the foot of the mountains — in the same way Melbourne has held on to Harry Grant despite the boom rake not playing regular first grade while at the Storm.
“Someone like Burto is working really hard at their game out of the spotlight,” Ciraldo said. “He’s just looking at working hard and improving every day. There is no real need to talk to him [about his future].
“But when you look at someone like Harry Grant, who plied his trade under Cameron Smith at Melbourne, he was held back.
“He could have gone somewhere else and played first grade a lot earlier but he kept working on his game out of the spotlight and when he did play first grade, he killed it.
“They have an incredible culture down there … and we feel we are on our way to creating that [culture].
“I’m sure guys like Burto see that sort of stuff and he sees we are the right place to help develop him.”
Grant arrived in Melbourne from the Sunshine Falcons on a full-time contract in 2017 and with a reputation as one of the best players in the Queensland Cup.
Even though there was a view he would be Cameron Smith’s successor, Grant ultimately found himself third in the packing order behind Brandon Smith in the race for the No.9 jumper.
However, Grant still re-signed with the Storm last year for a further three seasons, knowing he wasn’t guaranteed a regular first-grade spot. It took a revolutionary trade deal with the Wests Tigers for Grant to finally nail down a place in the NRL this year.
Smith’s future is still up in the air but Grant is expected to head back to the Storm at the end of the regular season.
The highly rated Burton, who has played five NRL games since making his debut for Penrith last year, is facing a similar scenario.
The 20-year old is stuck behind five-eighth Jarome Luai and halfback Nathan Cleary, which has made him a target for rival clubs.
Most interest has come from the Canterbury Bulldogs, the club at which Penrith’s attack coach Trent Barrett will take the reins from next season.
The target on Burton’s back doesn’t come as a surprise to Ciraldo. The former forward is expecting Penrith’s burgeoning player nursery and on-field success this season to turn the club into a poaching ground for its NRL rivals.
“When you are looking for good young talent, clubs like ours are where you look. That threat is there,” Ciraldo said.
“But I’m confident that we have the systems and culture where the guys that are here want to stay here and no one wants to put themselves on the open market. They want to stay here and work towards a common goal.”
During his time as Penrith’s under-20s Holden Cup coach between 2014 and 2016, Ciraldo coached 22 players who have gone on to make it in the NRL.
Of those players, 18 made their debuts for the Panthers and 12 — including the likes of Cleary, James Fisher-Harris, Brent Naden, Dylan Edwards and Liam Martin — are still part of Penrith’s NRL squad.
It has given Ciraldo an intimate knowledge of his playing roster, which has helped guide the side to the top of the ladder and fuelled Penrith’s push for its first premiership since 2003.
“To have seen these guys develop over the last six or seven years … knowing what they have gone through, what makes them tick, their strengths, what injuries they have had and what obstacles they have overcome,” Ciraldo said.
“To know all that, it’s been a huge advantage for myself. It’s also been rewarding and enjoyable.”
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Penrith’s fierce rival and fellow premiership contender Parramatta has given debuts to 16 active NRL players, the least of any side in the competition.
The club conducted an extensive review of all football department operations after finishing last in 2018.
One area highlighted was junior pathways and the need to retain local talent in a bid to give debuts to more players from the Eels’ nursery.
Mark O’Neill, who was appointed Parramatta’s general manager of football following the review, said giving debuts to players such as Reed Mahoney, Dylan Brown and Oregon Kaufusi was proof the Western Sydney powerhouse was making quick headway in rectifying the situation.
“The findings were there was a gap there,” O’Neill said.
“We have to be more diligent but in more recent years we’ve been able to debut Dylan Brown, Oregon Kaufusi, Reed Mahoney and Stefano Utoikamanu, and Haze Dunster debuted at the Nines.
“We’ve got others like Sam Hughes, Dave Hollis and William Penisini from our pathways, they’re all locked up.
“There are a few we have taken serious notice of in the last 18 months and look to give them their opportunity. If they are good enough we want them to play at our club.
“That’s what we are trying to do. We have a lot of talent out here and retaining them all is a challenge, but we need to be more sophisticated in keeping the right kids.”
O’Neill said Eels fans could look forward to players such as Ryan Matterson and Utoikamanu being retained, rather than Parramatta developing them and watching other clubs reap the benefits.
Utoikamanu is headed to Concord next season after making his NRL debut this year and Matterson made his debut for the Sydney Roosters despite being an Eels junior.
“A player adds value to a club but we have to challenge ourselves to add value to the player as well,” O’Neill said.
“By that I mean the work we do to improve their skills as footballers and making sure they have the technical, tactical and physical knowledge of the game … the things that show we can improve them as a player to make them stay.
“We have a good crop of kids coming through under the current NRL batch and we are confident they want to stay and develop as players at the Eels.”
Penrith’s rise as a junior pathways powerhouse began in 2011 when Phil Gould joined the club as the general manager of football.
Gould’s work in building the Penrith junior pathways is finally bearing fruit in the form of on-field success at the NRL level. And while Gould might have been the public face of it all, Ciraldo said the Panthers Academy would not be what it is today if not for the volunteers who pour thousands of hours every year into keeping the junior system up and running.
“Gus, Ivan (Cleary) and our high-performance manager Matt Cameron put in good pathways from 13 years old up to the under-20s level and into first grade,” he said. “It gives those kids in our nursery an opportunity to pursue an NRL career.
“But the unsung heroes in all of this are the people who give up their time at the junior level for us to then be able to develop kids into NRL players.
DEBUT TEAM ACTIVE NRL PLAYERS
BRISBANE BRONCOS 41
Darius Boyd (Brisbane), Alex Glenn (Brisbane), Jordan Kahu (Brisbane), Corey Oates (Brisbane), Jamil Hopoate (Brisbane), Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane), Tevita Pangai Jr (Brisbane), Jake Turpin (Brisbane), Jamayne Isaako (Brisbane), Keenan Palasia (Brisbane), Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane), Thomas Flegler (Brisbane), Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane), Payne Haas (Brisbane), Herbie Farnworth (Brisbane), David Fifita (Brisbane), Jordan Riki (Brisbane), Ethan Bullemor (Brisbane), Thomas Dearden (Brisbane), Izaia Perese (Brisbane), Cory Paix (Brisbane), Fanitesi Niu (Brisbane), Xavier Coates (Brisbane).
Dunamis Lui (Canberra), Dale Copley (Gold Coast Titans), Jarrod Wallace (Gold Coast Titans), Ashley Taylor (Gold Coast Titans), Jai Arrow (Gold Coast Titans), Jonus Pearson (Gold Coast Titans), Gehamat Shibasaki (Newcastle), Andrew McCullough (Newcastle), Jake Granville (North Queensland),
Josh McGuire (North Queensland), Francis Molo (North Queensland), Tom Opacic (North Queensland), Jaydn Su’a (South Sydney), Dane Gagai (South Sydney), Corey Norman (St George Illawarra), Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra), Gerard Beale (Warriors), Kodi Nikorima (Warriors).
PENRITH PANTHERS 40
Corey Harawira-Naera (Canberra), Christian Crichton (Canterbury), Sione Katoa (Canterbury), Chris Smith (Canterbury), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Canterbury), Matthew Moylan (Cronulla), Wade Graham (Cronulla), Bryce Cartwright (Gold Coast Titans), Tom Eisenhuth (Melbourne), Will Smith (Parramatta), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Parramatta), Michael Jennings (Parramatta), Waqa Blake (Parramatta), Jed Cartwright (South Sydney), Kaide Ellis (St George Illawarra), Jack Hetherington (Warriors), Wayde Egan (Warriors), George Jennings (Warriors), Robert Jennings (Wests Tigers).
Isaah Yeo (Penrith), Brent Naden (Penrith), Viliame Kikau (Penrith), Moses Leota (Penrith), James Fisher-Harris (Penrith), Tyrone May (Penrith), Dylan Edwards (Penrith), Josh Mansour (Penrith), Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (Penrith), Jarome Luai (Penrith), Nathan Cleary (Penrith), Caleb Aekins (Penrith), Liam Martin (Penrith), Mitchell Kenny (Penrith), Billy Burns (Penrith), Spencer Leniu (Penrith), Daine Laurie (Penrith), Brian To’o (Penrith), Stephen Crichton (Penrith)
Charlie Staines (Penrith), Matt Burton (Penrith).
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 38
Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney), Poasa Faamausili (Sydney Roosters), Joseph Manu (Sydney Roosters), Nat Butcher (Sydney Roosters), Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters), Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters), Mitchell Aubusson (Sydney Roosters), Jake Friend (Sydney Roosters), Matt Ikuvalu (Sydney Roosters), Isaac Liu (Sydney Roosters), Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters), Ryan Hall (Sydney Roosters), Max Bailey (Sydney Roosters), Lachlan Lam (Sydney Roosters), Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters), Sitili Tupouniua (Sydney Roosters), Daniel Fifita (Sydney Roosters), Billy Smith (Sydney Roosters), Sam Verrills (Sydney Roosters), Freddy Lussick (Sydney Roosters), Christian Tuipulotu (Sydney Roosters).
Sean O’Sullivan (Brisbane), Iosia Soliola (Canberra), Dylan Napa (Canterbury), Nene MacDonald (Cronulla), Brendan Elliot (Manly), Paul Momirovski (Melbourne), Sandor Earl (Melbourne), Mitchell Pearce (Newcastle), Aidan Guerra (Newcastle), Tautau Moga (Newcastle), Connor Watson (Newcastle), Kane Evans (Parramatta), Brad Takairangi (Parramatta), Josh Curran (Warriors), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors), Joseph Leilua (Wests Tigers), Ryan Matterson (Parramatta).
MELBOURNE STORM 37
Ryley Jacks (Melbourne), Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne), Kenny Bromwich (Melbourne), Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne), Cameron Smith (Melbourne), Cameron Munster (Melbourne), Suliasi Vunivalu (Melbourne), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne), Marion Seve (Melbourne), Brandon Smith (Melbourne), Nicholas Hynes (Melbourne), Chris Lewis (Melbourne), Christian Welch (Melbourne), Tui Kamikamica (Melbourne), Darryn Schonig (Melbourne), Justin Olam (Melbourne), Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne), Cooper Johns (Melbourne), Tino Faasuamaleaui (Melbourne).
Richard Kennar (Brisbane), Brodie Croft (Brisbane), Curtis Scott (Canberra), Joe Stimson (Canterbury), Dean Britt (Canterbury), Aiden Tolman (Canterbury), Kevin Proctor (Gold Coast Titans), Young Tonumaipea (Gold Coast Titans), Tim Glasby (Newcastle), Kurt Mann (Newcastle), Justin O’Neill (North Queensland), Ben Hampton (North Queensland), Jordan McLean (North Queensland), Scott Drinkwater (North Queensland), Adam Blair (Warriors), Tohu Harris (Warriors), Harry Grant (Wests Tigers), Billy Walters (Wests Tigers).
WESTS TIGERS 34
David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers), Matthew Eisenhuth (Wests Tigers), Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), Luke Garner (Wests Tigers), Josh Aloiai (Wests Tigers), Oliver Clark (Wests Tigers), Alex Twal (Wests Tigers), Jacob Liddle (Wests Tigers), Thomas Mikaele (Wests Tigers), Shawn Blore (Wests Tigers), Sam McIntyre (Wests Tigers), Alex Seyfarth (Wests Tigers), Reece Hoffman (Wests Tigers), Asu Kepaoa (Wests Tigers), Tommy Talau (Wests Tigers).
Ben Te’o (Brisbane), Matthew Lodge (Brisbane), Tyson Gamble (Brisbane), JJ Collins (Canberra), Jeremy Marshall-King (Canterbury), Sauaso Sue (Canterbury), Aaron Woods (Cronulla), Andrew Fifita (Cronulla), Curtis Sironen (Manly), Moses Suli (Manly), Josh Addo-Carr (Melbourne), Esan Marsters (North Queensland), Nathan Brown (Parramatta), Mitchell Moses (Parramatta), David Gower (Parramatta), Bayley Sironen (South Sydney), James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters).
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 33
James Roberts (South Sydney), Cody Walker (South Sydney), Adam Reynolds (South Sydney), Alex Johnston (South Sydney), Thomas Burgess (South Sydney), Braidon Burns (South Sydney), Tom Amone (South Sydney), Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney), Campbell Graham (South Sydney), Steven Marsters (South Sydney), Jaxson Paulo (South Sydney), Tevita Tatola (South Sydney), Jack Johns (South Sydney), Troy Dargan (South Sydney), Cameron Murray (South Sydney), Corey Allan (South Sydney)
Rhys Kennedy (Brisbane), Issac Luke (Brisbane), Connor Tracey (Cronulla), Siosifa Talakai (Cronulla), Mawene Hiroti (Cronulla), Nathan Peats (Gold Coast Titans), Dylan Walker (Manly), Jack Gosiewski (Manly), Apisai Koroisau (Penrith), Tyrell Fuimaono (St George Illawarra), Cameron McInnes (St George Illawarra), Billy Brittain (St George Illawarra), Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters), Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters), Chris McQueen (Wests Tigers), Zane Musgrove (Wests Tigers), Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers)
CANBERRA RAIDERS 31
Luke Bateman (Canberra), George Williams (Canberra), Ryan Sutton (Canberra), Josh Hodgson (Canberra), Elliott Whitehead (Canberra), John Bateman (Canberra), Sam Williams (Canberra), Jarrod Croker (Canberra), Jack Wighton (Canberra), Josh Papalii (Canberra), Nick Cotric (Canberra), Emre Guler (Canberra), Kai O’Donnell (Canberra), Hudson Young (Canberra), Bailey Simonsson (Canberra), Sebastian Kris (Canberra), Corey Horsburgh (Canberra), Harley Smith-Shields (Canberra), Semi Valemei (Canberra).
Anthony Milford (Brisbane), Josh Dugan (Cronulla), Royce Hunt (Cronulla), Shannon Boyd (Gold Coast Titans), Joel Thompson (Manly), Lachlan Croker (Manly), Brenko Lee (Melbourne), Mitchell Barnett (Newcastle), Edrick Lee (Newcastle), Mark Nicholls (South Sydney), Paul Vaughan (St George Illawarra), Jack Murchie (Warriors).
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS 29
Agnatius Paasi (Warriors), Leeson Ah Mau (Warriors), David Fusitu’a (Warriors), Ken Maumalo (Warriors), Nathaniel Roache (Warriors), Bunty Afoa (Warriors), Jazz Tevaga (Warriors), Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (Warriors), Patrick Herbert (Warriors), Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors), Isaiah Papali’i (Warriors), Adam Keighran (Warriors), King Vuniyayawa (Warriors), Paul Turner (Warriors), Hayze Perham (Warriors), Adam Pompey (Warriors), Eliesa Katoa (Warriors).
Siliva Havili (Canberra), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Canberra), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Canterbury), Shaun Johnson (Cronulla), Samuel Lisone (Gold Coast Titans), Erin Clark (Gold Coast Titans), Toafofoa Sipley (Manly), Albert Vete (Melbourne), Mason Lino (Melbourne), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters), Russell Packer (Wests Tigers), Elijah Taylor (Wests Tigers).
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS 26
Renouf To’omaga (Canterbury), Adam Elliott (Canterbury), Ofahiki Ogden (Canterbury), Lachlan Lewis (Canterbury), Marcelo Montoya (Canterbury), Luke Thompson (Canterbury), Reimis Smith (Canterbury), Tim Lafai (Canterbury), Josh Jackson (Canterbury), Morgan Harper (Canterbury), Brandon Wakeham (Canterbury), Kerrod Holland (Canterbury), Jayden Okunbor (Canterbury), Matt Doorey (Canterbury), Jake Averillo (Canterbury).
Matt Frawley (Canberra), Corey Thompson (Gold Coast Titans), Martin Taupau (Manly), Dale Finucane (Melbourne), David Klemmer (Newcastle), Herman Ese’ese (Newcastle), Shaun Lane (Parramatta), James Graham (St George Illawarra), Lachlan Burr (Warriors), Moses Mbye (Wests Tigers), Josh Reynolds (Wests Tigers).
CRONULLA SHARKS 26
Scott Sorensen (Cronulla), Jesse Ramien (Cronulla), Jack Williams (Cronulla), Jayson Bukuya (Cronulla), Bryson Goodwin (Cronulla), Chad Townsend (Cronulla), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla), Billy Magoulias (Cronulla), Toby Rudolf (Cronulla), William Kennedy (Cronulla), Sione Katoa (Cronulla), Jackson Ferris (Cronulla), Teig Wilton (Cronulla), Bronson Xerri (Cronulla), Briton Nikora (Cronulla), Braydon Trindall (Cronulla), Blayke Brailey (Cronulla).
Jack Bird (Brisbane), Tyrone Peachey (Gold Coast Titans), Jayden Brailey (Newcastle), Valentine Holmes (North Queensland), Blake Ferguson (Parramatta), Kurt Capewell (Penrith), Kurt Dillon (South Sydney), Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra), Kyle Flanagan (Sydney Roosters).
MANLY SEA EAGLES 25
Addin Fonua-Blake (Manly), Jake Trbojevic (Manly), Abbas Miski (Manly), Tom Trbojevic (Manly), Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly), Jorge Taufua (Manly), Bradley Parker (Manly), Corey Waddell (Manly), Reuben Garrick (Manly), Tevita Funa (Manly), Cade Cust (Manly), Taniela Paseka (Manly), Haumole Olakau’atu (Manly), Manase Fainu (Manly), Sean Keppie (Manly).
Michael Oldfield (Canberra), William Hopoate (Canterbury), Kieran Foran (Canterbury), Brian Kelly (Gold Coast Titans), Clinton Gutherson (Parramatta), Dean Whare (Penrith), Liam Knight (South Sydney), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters), Peta Hiku (Warriors), Michael Chee Kam (Wests Tigers)
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 25
Jake Clifford (North Queensland), Reuben Cotter (North Queensland), Emry Pere (North Queensland), Connelly Lemuelu (North Queensland), Peter Hola (North Queensland), Murray Taulagi (North Queensland), Daejarn Asi (North Queensland), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (North Queensland), Thomas Gilbert (North Queensland), Shane Wright (North Queensland), Corey Jensen (North Queensland), John Asiata (North Queensland), Coen Hess (North Queensland), Mitchell Dunn (North Queensland), Kyle Feldt (North Queensland), Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland), Michael Morgan (North Queensland), Gavin Cooper (North Queensland).
Braden Hamlin-Uele (Cronulla), Enari Tuala (Newcastle), Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle), James Tamou (Penrith), Ethan Lowe (South Sydney), Patrick Mago (South Sydney), Tariq Sims (St George Illawarra).
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 25
Euan Aitken (St George Illawarra), Adam Clune (St George Illawarra), Matthew Dufty (St George Illawarra), Jacob Host (St George Illawarra), Josh Kerr (St George Illawarra), Jack De Belin (St George Illawarra), Trent Merrin (St George Illawarra), Blake Lawrie (St George Illawarra), Jordan Pereira (St George Illawarra), Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra), Tristan Sailor (St George Illawarra), Mikaele Ravalawa (St George Illawarra), Jackson Ford (St George Illawarra), Jason Saab (St George Illawarra), Josh Morris (Sydney Roosters), Brett Morris (Sydney Roosters).
Cameron King (Cronulla), Mitch Rein (Gold Coast Titans), Reece Robson (North Queensland), Jai Field (Parramatta), Damien Cook (South Sydney), Hame Sele (South Sydney), Drew Hutchison (Sydney Roosters), Taane Milne (Warriors), Luciano Leilua (Wests Tigers)
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 22
Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Newcastle), Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle), Jacob Saifiti (Newcastle), Sione Mata’utia (Newcastle), Josh King (Newcastle), Brodie Jones (Newcastle), Starford To’a (Newcastle), Chris Randall (Newcastle), Tex Hoy (Newcastle), Pasami Saulo (Newcastle), Bradman Best (Newcastle), Phoenix Crossland (Newcastle).
Tom Starling (Canberra), Joseph Tapine (Canberra), Jack Cogger (Canterbury), Nick Meaney (Canterbury), Sam Stone (Gold Coast Titans), Tyrone Roberts (Gold Coast Titans), Danny Levi (Manly), Zane Tetevano (Penrith), Cory Denniss (South Sydney), Korbin Sims (St George Illawarra).
GOLD COAST TITANS 21
Ryan James (Gold Coast Titans), Jamal Fogarty (Gold Coast Titans), Anthony Don (Gold Coast Titans), Keegan Hipgrave (Gold Coast Titans), Phillip Sami (Gold Coast Titans), Beau Fermor (Gold Coast Titans), Jai Whitbread (Gold Coast Titans), Jaimin Jolliffe (Gold Coast Titans), AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans), Tanah Boyd (Gold Coast Titans), Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans), Treymain Spry (Gold Coast Titans).
Jesse Arthars (Brisbane), Jordan Rapana (Canberra), Morgan Boyle (Manly), Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne), Max King (Melbourne), Tyronne Roberts-Davis (Newcastle), Hymel Hunt (Newcastle), Leivaha Pulu (Warriors), Karl Lawton (Warriors).
PARRAMATTA EELS 16
Peni Terepo (Parramatta), Junior Paulo (Parramatta), Marata Niukore (Parramatta), Dylan Brown (Parramatta), Jaeman Salmon (Parramatta), Ethan Parry (Parramatta), Maika Sivo (Parramatta), Stefano Utoikamanu (Parramatta), Reed Mahoney (Parramatta), Oregon Kafusi (Parramatta), Andrew Davey (Parramatta), Raymond Stone (Parramatta).
Tony Williams (Manly), Blake Green (Newcastle), Brayden Wiliame (St George Illawarra), Daniel Alvaro (Warriors).