Saint Kentigern’s College old boy, Matt Duffie, shone in the eye of the Storm. Whilst making his NRL debut for the embattled Melbourne Storm,the New Zealand teenager scored a double in his side’s 40-6 win over the Warriors.
At least this was a positive for the Melbourne Storm, who were punished harshly for salary cap breaches before the match.
Duffie was signed by the Storm while still a year 13 student at St Kentigern’s College, Pakuranga in 2008, where he was a standout sportsman.
From a young age, Duffie demonstrated the athletic ability required to play in the NRL.
Winning Auckland schoolboy titles in the 200m and long jump, as well as making the national u-19 Volleyball team and playing AFL for national sides.
The head of sports at Saint Kentigern College, Martin Piaggi remembers Duffie well.
“We [the staff] expected him to make it,” said Piaggi.
Duffie’s debut was even more spectacular in light of the week that the Melbourne Storm empire came tumbling down.
Being stripped of two premierships, and forced to play the remainder of the season without earning any competition points as punishment for their breaches.
“He has always been a big game player; he has a great attitude and is very humble.
“He would have wanted the ball to come to him,” said Piaggi.
Chris Baker, a fellow member of the Saint Kentigern’s 1st XV, remembers how hard Duffie trained to get where he is.
“He was pretty tough, mentally, he would have handled the extra pressure,” said Baker.
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