Canterbury Bulldogs centre exploring Super League opportunities – reports
Canterbury Bulldogs centre Braidon Burns is open to exploring opportunities in Super League, according to his agent.
The Daily Mail reports that the 27-year-old could be keen to pursue his career on the other side of the globe, having made just eight NRL appearances this season due to injuries.
The Australian outside-back was ruled out for two months due to a Grade 3 MCL sprain earlier in May, with Bulldogs general manager sharing on Twitter: “Braidon Burns has completely torn the superficial fibres of his MCL.
“Plan: This will take five to eight weeks to heal and return to play.”
He missed a large part of the 2020 season with the South Sydney Rabbitohs after dislocating a knee against the Bulldogs.
He has made 62 NRL appearances to date, scoring 16 tries, having made his debut with the Rabbitohs in 2017 against Manly Sea Eagles.
The Daily Mail reports that his agent, Allan Gainey, is exploring playing opportunities in Super League with his current contract set to expire at the end of the year.
Dissecting Super League options
A number of Super League clubs may be open to the move for 2024, with several sides yet to complete their overseas quota spots for the next campaign.
Catalans Dragons will lose star centre Adam Keighran to Wigan at the end of the year after the Australian signed a two-year deal under Matt Peet.
Fellow centre Matt Ikuvalu has an option for 2024, although his future is yet to be confirmed, having made the move in April.
Steve McNamara’s side is set for a major revamp ahead of 2024, with a handful of players set to retire or move on at the end of the current season.
Former England skipper Sam Tomkins will hang up the boots, while veteran Mitchell Pearce may also retire, according to reports.
Matt Whitley, Tyrone May, Tiaki Chan and Sio Siua Taukeiaho will all move on at the end of the campaign.
Huddersfield and Hull KR looked to have used all their seven quota spots for 2024. Leeds Rhinos could be boosted by an extra centre.
Papua New Guinea international Nene Macdonald joined the side from Leigh after winning promotion to Super League, while Harry Newman has been limited to appearances during his career due to several devastating injuries.
Coach Rohan Smith does however have a back-up in Wales’ Luis Roberts, who signed ahead of 2023 and has made nine appearances to date.
Warrington outside-backs Peter Mata’utia and Greg Minikin are off-contract at the end of the year, with the Halliwell Jones Stadium outfit limited in their centre choices. Connor Wrench and Stefan Ratchford are currently contracted for 2025 and 2024 respectively.
Salford and Leigh also have quota spots available and currently hold the smallest squads in Super League, with Adrian Lam recently adding Oliver Gildart for the rest of 2023. The former Wigan centre will link up with Hull KR on a three-year contract next season.
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