The Bulldogs have made huge strides in terms of their recruitment in other areas – most notably Matt Burton to play five-eighth – but big question marks still hang over who will partner him.
Both local junior Jake Averillo and former Rooster Kyle Flanagan are in the frame, but coach Trent Barrett wasn’t happy with either’s performance during last night’s 16-16 draw with Newcastle.
“It was a funny one tonight – I said pregame that our set ends were going to be really important, and it was what we had problems with last year. It reared its head again tonight, and that’s why Burton’s been bought to the club,” Barrett said afterwards.
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The premiership-winning centre always wanted to play in the halves, but had his path blocked by Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary.
The decision to move to Belmore and link up with his old assistant coach is arguably Canterbury’s most significant signing in several years.
“He’ll obviously be our dominant playmaker and our dominant kicker, but we need the seven to stand up. I thought we were scratchy in parts of our attack, and not a lot of continuity there – which I thought would happen.
“But we got a fair bit of good ball there at the back end of the game, and we just need someone to stand up and take control of the side. They’re young, I get it, but that’s the job and we’ve got some work to do this week.”
Barrett, himself a dominant playmaking five-eighth, knows better than most that top halfbacks don’t grow on trees – and is yet to commit to a No.7 to partner Burton in round one against the Cowboys.
Averillo started last night’s trial while Flanagan came off the bench.
The coach praised new recruits Max King, Tevita Pangai Jr and Matt Dufty for their performances against Newcastle – the latter scoring an 80 metre breakaway try – but said there was plenty to fix; most notably errors, discipline and fifth tackle options.
Other big recruits including Burton and Brent Naden did not feature – Bulldogs fans will get a glimpse of their talent next week in the team’s final trial game against Cronulla.
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