Could Burton's run game improve the Dogs?

Denan Kemp and Chad Townsend have praised the performance of Matt Burton.

Having not won a game since Round 6, the Bulldogs broke their five-game losing streak against the Storm with a 30-20 win at Accor Stadium on Friday night.

One of the star performers for the Dogs in their win was Matt Burton.

The five-eighth had a dominant running game, managing 252 metres (a career best) whilst also achieving seven tackle breaks and two line breaks.

With his strong showing, Kemp questioned what this would mean going forward for the halves partnership between Burton and Lachie Galvin.

“The tough thing is that Galvin kind of played more like a (No.) 7 last night and allowed Burton to be the main 6,” Kemp explained on SEN’s Saturday League Kick-Off.

“So, does Galvin need to take a step back a little bit? It is one game against an understrength Storm.

"Like if you're (Cameron) Ciraldo heading into the next game, what are you saying to the boys?”

With Burton being able to dominate the run game as a running five-eighth, Townsend believed the move boosted the side's left edge.

“From what I saw last night, Matt Burton had a clear mindset to run the football,” Townsend added.

“He was aggressive every time he got the ball. I think getting in that mindset is key for Matt Burton, because he ran for 252 metres at five-eighth.

“Five years ago, we'd never ever see a five-eighth run for 252 metres.

“So that shape on the left edge, we know that's probably their most lethal edge, for the Bulldogs.

“They had Xerri swinging out the back, a lot on that sweep shape to try and get some one-on-one with Nick Meaney.

“But Matt Burton, I just love the aggressive mindset of taking the line on running the ball.”

And with the positive result, the former Broncos and Warriors winger believes it could improve their struggles in attack given they were ranked 16th for point scored prior to their Round 12 clash.

“I don't know whether (Cameron) Ciraldo actually did that (but) it looked like they took the shackles off the players a little bit,” Kemp said.

“(The) Bulldogs are such a system-oriented side that I wonder whether sometimes I feel like when Galvin goes to the line, he's not thinking I can score on this play, he's thinking this is what I have to do at play three.

“I'll give you an example. I think it was 10-15 minutes in, and he just laid a very simple line from Leo Thompson, but he passed the ball two metres before the line.

“That to me says that that's a guy going, ‘OK, I've got a certain set that I have to hit, and I'm not actually thinking about each play as they happen and digging into the line each time’.

“The reason I say that is it looked (like) Ciraldo had said to him (Burton), ‘Don't worry about systems, don't worry about ballplaying.

“Whatever you wanna do, just do it. Don't hesitate, don't second-guess yourself and say, 'I'd better get the ball out to my centre or hit you out the back or whatever'.

“Basically, you see something, take it.

“I wonder whether that might just open up the Dogs’ attack a little bit.”

Cameron Ciraldo’s men will take on the Wests Tigers next Saturday at CommBank Stadium.

Kick-off takes place at 5:30pm AEST.