The iSelect Titans can today confirm the signings of young back-rowers Matt Robinson from Penrith and Lachlan Burr from Canterbury on two-year contacts from 2015.
The 24-year-old Wellington-born Robinson began his career with the NZ Warriors under-20s and was a regular in the Panthers’ NRL side in 2012-13 until he fractured his C6 vertebra in round 18 last season after Ivan Cleary brought him to the club from Auckland.
Robinson has fought his way back into the Panthers pack in recent weeks after further minor injury setbacks earlier this season and is seen as a player of great potential.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence from the last few weeks after having to overcome some injuries and I’m really excited about joining the Titans next year and hopefully playing my best football,” Robinson said today.
“Obviously the neck was a major shock at first but I’ve made a full recovery. I had to play a bit of catch up this season with a couple of other injuries too but I’m feeling good now and hope to finish the season well and then head to the Gold Coast.”
The 21-year-old Burr toured alongside Paul Carter to England with the 2010 Australian Schoolboys and played with Carter and Aidan Sezer in the Bulldogs’ under-20s teams, and Carter in the Bulldogs’ reserve grade last season. His link with Sezer goes back to the Bulldogs’ junior representative sides which saw them win an S G Ball (under-16s) grand final together. He first played under-20s for the Bulldogs at just 17.
“He’s a very athletic player, big and rangy, pretty fast and strong and I think he’ll do well here,” was the endorsement from Carter.
Burr has spent the past two seasons in the Bulldogs full-time NRL squad but has played just the one NRL match.
“I’m looking forward to getting back together with Aidan and Paul who I played a lot of footy with and making the most of the opportunity with a new club and new place after spending all my junior and senior career at the Bulldogs,” said Burr, who was selected in the NSW Residents team this season.
“Obviously with so much depth in the forwards here my opportunities have been limited and I’m keen to work hard and make the most of my chances on the Gold Coast.”
