Bears open to taking Bulldogs star Matt Burton immediately

The Perth Bears are open to accommodating Matt Burton immediately if the representative star commits to the NRL newcomers from 2028, should Canterbury be prepared to release him early.

The Bears have tabled Burton a three-year deal beginning from 2028 in the hope of landing their biggest recruit yet. The franchise has been granted a 20 per cent marquee salary cap allowance that allows an existing club sponsor to top up one player’s salary - and the Bears are using it in an attempt to lure Burton to Western Australia.

It means Burton will earn at least $1.2 million per season if he joins coach Mal Meninga’s team, while there have also been discussions about ratchet clauses for some of his tenure.

The former Panthers star, who is contracted to the Bulldogs for another year, spent last weekend touring the Bears facilities with his family. A decision on his future is imminent.

Bears general manager of football Gareth Holmes confirmed the allowance would be used in an attempt to jag the club’s biggest signing.

“He’s a marquee player, so we would be looking to use that allowance,” Holmes said.

“It’s a welcome allowance we have been given and it helps us along. We’re on a short runway to build this squad - and I feel we’ve done a fair job - but this helps us …

“[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. I’m not sure who else has presented to him.

“We’re hoping to find out something from him at the back end of this week. If not, early next week.”

Asked if, with Canterbury’s blessing, the Bears would be in a position to take Burton immediately, Holmes said: “It’s something we’d like to look at, but a lot of things would need to happen.

“At the moment we are focused on 2028, because that’s what we’re able to do.

“We would definitely be open to it and definitely interested.”

While Canterbury would like to retain Burton, they are only prepared to play and pay him as a centre. In Perth, he would be handed the No.6 jersey and paid accordingly, where he would reunite with 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.

Another big talking point for the Bears is the prospect of staging a game at North Sydney Oval, in what would be a celebration of the club’s red-and-black heritage. This masthead revealed the challenges in that becoming a reality; Cricket NSW would have to reschedule some Sydney grade cricket matches for that to happen.

Taking the cricket pitch in and out could come at a cost of $200,000, with none of the parties keen to pick up the bill. However, Holmes was confident of a resolution that would allow the Bears to return to Norths’ spiritual home.

“We’re definitely holding out hope,” he said.

“I’d like to think we will hear something very soon so that we’re able to do that. It would be a great way to kick off the pre-season challenge, for the Perth Bears to play at North Sydney Oval.

“The first thing is, Cricket NSW and local cricket have got a couple of local games scheduled for North Sydney Oval, so the first part is to get those games moved.

“We don’t feel that’s a huge challenge. On confirmation of that happening, then getting the pitch lifted, which normally happens around April anyway for the North Sydney Bears season.

“We’d just ask if that pitch can be lifted early to allow for this trial.”