Joining the Bulldogs is turning Matt Burton from an attacking maestro into a one-dimensional pivot

Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr were meant to breathe new life into Canterbury’s moribund attack, but statistics show the Bulldogs’ big money signings have significantly regressed at their new club.

Canterbury spent almost $2million in the offseason to overhaul their attack but they appear no closer to see a return on their hefty investment.

Burton starred as centre for Penrith last season, winning the premiership and earning a nomination in the Dally M Team of the Year. The 22-year-old has been deployed at five-eight for the Bulldogs this season, but has so far struggled to shine in his preferred position.

Matt Burton (left) and Josh Addo-Carr have both struggled since joining Canterbury

According to Fox Sports data, Burton has gone from kicking 3.5 times a game for the Panthers to putting boot on ball 13 times a game for the Bulldogs. More worryingly for Canterbury, their big-money signing is yet to score a try or register a try and a line break since joining the Doggies. 

Former New South Wales great Michael Ennis attributed Burton’s struggles to a lack of adequate support from his halves partner.

‘He really needs a halfback to take control of the attacking kicks to allow him to be able to be a threat with the footy by running on play four with some sort of run shape,’ Ennis, who spent six seasons with Canterbury, told Fox League.

‘For the Dogs at the moment, because they haven’t got a traditional No.7, Burton can’t be scheming on plays like three and four because he knows he will have to get them out of trouble with his boot.

Burton won last year’s Grand Final while playing as a centre for Penrith (above) and was named in the Dally M Team of the Year 

But he has yet to score, record a line break or an assist since switching to the Bulldogs

‘Matty looks like he is thinking he needs to be in position to kick the footy rather than ready to pull the trigger in attack.’

The picture isn’t much rosier for Addo-Carr, who is yet to cross for the Doggies this season after scoring 96 tries in 118 games for the Melbourne Storm – a ratio a try in 81 percent of his appearances. 

A lethal finisher during his time with the Storm, Addo-Carr won three Grand Finals in his five years in Melbourne but a repeat of those triumphs looks highly unlikely in Sydney.  

‘I think both players would be having a certain amount of regret about coming from great systems in Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers into a club that has won one game,’ Phil Rothfield said on Big Sports Breakfast on Monday.

Burton and Addo-Carr have embodied the Bulldogs’ struggles this season. 

Addo-Carr scored a try in 81 percent of his 118 games for the Melbourne Storm, winning three Grand Finals in five years with the club

But he is yet to cross for the Bulldogs since moving north to Sydney in the offseason 

Canterbury is 14th on the NRL ladder with just one win for their first four matches and have scored just 28 points so far, the lowest return of any team in the competition.

The Bulldogs were on the receiving end of a 44-0 shellacking against Melbourne on Sunday and face the daunting prospect of playing Penrith on Sunday.

The Panthers have made a flying start to their title defence and are the only team still unbeaten in the NRL after four rounds. 

Following their clash against the reigning premiers, Canterbury take on fellow strugglers South Sydney and Brisbane away from home, before hosting the Sydney Roosters at the end of the month.