The Bulldogs remain an option for Benji Marshall in 2021 with the club reportedly planning a late swoop for the clubless veteran.
Marshall is currently on the lookout for a new home after he was told by the Wests Tigers he wouldn't be re-signed beyond this season.
The legendary halfback hasn't been short of options, knocking back an opportunity to sign with the North Queensland Cowboys and more recently turning down a $700k offer from Super League outfit Hull FC.
The 36-year-old has since outlined his desires to stay in Sydney, which has cast further doubts over his bid to play on next season.
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The Bulldogs were mentioned as a potential suitor for Marshall, before Trent Barrett sealed the signature of prized Panthers halfback Matt Burton for 2022.
But speaking on Triple M, reporter James Hooper explained how the Bulldogs were still monitoring Marshall's situation very closely and hadn't ruled out a late play for the Tigers champion.
"They've (Bulldogs) been massively active in the player market - Josh Addo-Carr, on the back of Matt Burton, on the back of Jack Hetherington, on the back of Nick Cotric - it's been a huge couple of months for them since Trent Barrett joined," Hooper said.
"I touched on Matt Burton and I think this is the piviotal one here. If the Panthers and the Bulldogs can somehow negotiate that Matt Burton is allowed at Belmore from 2021 then I think the Dogs won't make a play for Benji.
"If Penrith continue to stand on their digs and say 'no, we're not releasing Matt Burton', then I think Benji's a good chance of landing at Belmore."
The Bulldogs' desperate bid to negotiate an early release for Burton ahead of next season was recently quashed by Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.
Cleary told the Sydney Morning Herald Penrith wouldn't budge on its stance towards Burton seeing out the final year of his contract with the 22-year-old a chance of slotting in at centre next season.
It opens the path for the Bulldogs to offer Marshall a one-year deal and pair up the premiership-winning playmaker with new recruit Kyle Flanagan, who Barrett has identified as his long-term halfback, for next season before Burton's arrival in 2022.
While for Marshall it presents an opportunity to stay in Sydney and finish off his career alongside brother Jeremy Marshall-King, who looks set to retain the Bulldogs' starting hooker spot in 2021.
Despite controversially being dumped by boyhood club the Tigers, Marshall is still widely perceived as one of the NRL's most influencial playmakers, and has reiterated his desires to play on into what would be the 19th year of his profesional career.
Revealing his motives behind turning down a lucrative offer to move over to the UK, Marshall recently declared the opportunity to keep his family in Sydney is his priority over money.
"Life's not all about money and when I thought about the pros and cons (of moving to the UK), the pros were just about the money," he told Triple M.
"If it was about the money I probably would've retired five years ago, I haven't been playing for much for the last few years
"With COVID and a few family issues, I'd just prefer to stay in Sydney."
