Matt Dufty made the St George Illawarra Dragons look stupid at Kogarah last night.
As the Red V ran up 50 on the Brisbane Broncos, Dufty was everywhere for the club who don’t want him from next year onwards, scoring a double and running on five try assists.
Seven try involvements in a single game is a special game in anyone’s book. It’s even more so the case when you consider the 25-year-old fullback was making his return from injury, and the prevailing weather conditions were less than conducive to good attacking rugby league.
But Dufty didn’t let any of that, or the fact he has just been told by the club that he won’t be needed next year, get in the way of an incredible performance. It was potentially the best of his career, and better than most fullbacks could put together.
While the Dragons’ much-maligned number one still has plenty of questions surrounding his defence, and even last night there were examples of it not being quite up to the mark, Dufty showed exactly what he is capable of bringing to this competition with a mix of scintillating runs with his pace and footwork and excellent passing, setting up teammates left, right and centre.
On top of his seven try involvements, Dufty had 130 metres and four line-break assists. No one is claiming he is the best fullback in the game, but the Broncos defence simply had no answers for him, and they aren’t the first to encounter that issue this year.
The Dragons attack was stagnant at best with Dufty on the sideline – you only have to look at their horror loss to the Tigers last week to realise that. But with Dufty, both before and now after injury, they look a different team.
Before you say “oh it was just the Broncos,” Dufty had eight tries and five try assists from his ten games before last night, and has been everywhere for the Dragons when on the park this year.
It’s not silly to say he improves others around him too, creating time and space with his speed and footwork, dragging defenders in regularly. His vision has gone from strength to strength too, and you feel he has a far superior eye for the game than he once did.
And while defence and attitude are supposedly the issues, speaking on Channel Nine post-game last night, Billy Slater summed it up best, quipping that “I thought you only replaced someone if you have someone better.”
The Dragons do not have someone better. They didn’t chase (or at the very least, weren’t able to land) Nicho Hynes, Cody Ramsey has proven he is a winger and boom youngster Tyrrel Sloan is not yet ready for first grade.
Sloan will more than likely be the Dragons long-term fullback, but that is a long-term project, with the 18-year-old only making his debut in New South Wales Cup a handful of weeks ago and still sitting on a development deal this season.
With virtually no other top-line fullbacks on the open market come the end of this season, the Dragons’ strategy of allowing Dufty to walk while they look to persist with other club players smacks of incompetence in recruitment, but then, Dragons fans would hardly be surprised.
The list of players who have been able to walk away from the club and make careers of it elsewhere is staggering. And not only that, but the way they have improved once away from the joint venture, going on to greater and bigger things.
(Image/Darren Pateman)
Reece Robson, Luciano Leilua, Jason Saab, Patrick Herbert, Jai Field, Hame Sele, Jacon Host and Drew Hutchison just to name a few were all talented youngsters coming through the club who failed to kick on, have gone elsewhere and are now in and around first grade.
It’s a scary prospect for the Dragons to know just how poorly the recruitment and retention side of the club has let them down over the past five or six years, and to realise there is now another mistake in the process of being made with Dufty being let go.
Dufty may not be the guy who you can build a premiership around, but he could well prove his worth to be higher than he has shown at the Dragons once he exits the club in 2022, which now seems destined to happen. You’d have to think both the Broncos and Bulldogs will be sniffing around, although solid concrete evidence or even rumours don’t really exist at this stage.
There was more than just Dufty to talk about from Thursday night’s clash though, with Jack De Belin making a very solid return to first grade after almost two and a half years on the sideline. While he only played 25 minutes, it would hardly be a surprise to see him back in the starting team in the coming weeks.
He, alongside Dufty and Ben Hunt who ran the ball excellently at times, proved what the Dragons can do this year, but they will need to get on a run of form in the next month with a soft run in the draw before a tough finish to the season.
In saying that, the Broncos aren’t a yardstick, and their defence last night was about as pathetic as it gets at times. They did have some nice touches in attack and Albert Kelly seems to have been a good addition for the club, but their defence simply wasn’t good enough.
While the Broncos have a lot of soul searching to do, the Dragons aren’t in the clear either with their defence soft in stretches.
Still, that won’t be what comes out of last night, with Matt Dufty stealing the show but not having a contract for 2022.
It’s baffling.
Andrew
Roar Pro
I don’t think Hunt or Norman are great defenders either. The point I’m making is that the club is letting Dufty go without even trying him at 5/8. Norman is so slow he’s not a genuine running threat. A running 5/8 is the piece of the puzzle we’re missing
matth
Roar Guru
Slippery Steve Morris
matth
Roar Guru
We will trade Isaako for him. We’ll even buy the plane tickets.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Didn’t stop Normie from getting the big bickies for that job (although he did kick a pearler last week)
Heyou
Roar Rookie
There was a song in my head as I wrote it :silly: :laughing:
andrew
Roar Rookie
Well said Snowy, he's no good, da da da, there's a song in that :laughing:
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Off-field my foot! Rumour mongering I’d suggest. He’s not a nice, good, humble, toe the line type of guy? If so? Pffff Get real. So what? He’s there to play footy not to be everyone’s best mate and all round good bloke. Egomaniacal? Delusional to think players don’t have a healthy ego. Why wouldn’t they? It’s what gets them to high places. We may all look back on the Dufty induced psychosis rampaging through social media, online magazines and other media forums and laugh about it over a beer or stiff whisky one day. Dufty Dufty Dufty!hahaha. That was a freaky time in Dragons history. What a storm in a teacup it all was....
Heyou
Roar Rookie
I’m a bit cranky. I’m not the only one. Dufty has been strung along and basically ignored by Hook as ‘Oh he went ok. he’s got a lot to learn... Norman had an excellent game” type comments after games. Supporters knew something wasn’t right but didn’t want to believe that any coach would throw a Dufty to the Dogs (maybe) without a backward glance. Give me a break! He’s known Dufty was for the curb since day one, if not before. Why shouldn’t supporters know why they are losing a local junior with such a developing skill set, natural ability and the potential to become an excellent roving fullback? It’s none of their business? BS to that. Tell it like it is Hook and recruitment. Supporters are sick and tired of the feeble explanations and lack of a better replacement for at least another one and a half seasons. By that time Dufty could be playing 5/8 with a bit of defensive development and some support from a well- heeled teammate. Aaah it’s a rotten thing to be a supporter. No one gives a fig for your opinions. Hook is all for developing from our local feeder teams... hmph. Oh I forgot to mention that defensive problem didn’t I? ...”he’s no good, he’s no good, he’s no good, baby he’s no good” BS
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Dragons supporters are so glad the Birdman has come home.
Larry1950
Guest
If you reckon the dragons retention & recruitment is crazy, what about the broncos? Nicho Haynes cuts them up from fullback, let’s sign him, but offer a pittance which doesn’t work. Oh well, Dufty carves them up, let’s sign him, probably just using them to get a spot with some Sydney club but get caught up in the publicity. Don’t think he’s a fit for the broncos. Here’s a thought, they talked about Gagai so maybe offer him the opportunity at fullback because he’s got big game experience & covers every outside back position then grab Sebastian Kris from the raiders as a centre while the cold snap makes Canberra unliveable. They’ve got an organising halfback next season & have decided on their 5/8 for 2022 so bring in Billy Walters to cover 5/8 & hooker from the bench & their 2022 backline doesn’t look that bad with Isaako, Cobbo, Arthurs & Copley etc covering those spots. Move Lodge on, get Su’a back and kevvie has something to work with, no premiership but competitive. PS: get a decent fitness coach or it all goes to manure.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Col Pearce, the Souths fan, also played a big part in 1967 and 1968 premierships. The new four tackle rule meant there was a scrum at the end of each set. Who knew why Col Pearce gave Souths all those scrum penalties. If Eric Simms wasn't kicking penalty goals there was also the 2 point field goals that everyone complained about. No wonder we now have a handover after the 6th tackle and 1 point field goals.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The 1955 premiership was controversial to say the least. Darcy Lawler the top referee was replaced by Col Pearce for the final series. In the preliminary final Saints were penalised out of the game. The second half penalties were 15-2 in favour of Souths. After one scrum penalty Ken Kearney, Saints captain coach, asked Pearce what the penalty was for. Pearce replied - to show you who is boss. Newtown were ripped off by Col Pearce who was born in Newtown. A few years ago Alan Clarkson said that he and Col Pearce were Souths fans who regularly attended Souths matches. The older Saints fans weren't surprised.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Clive Churchill was the first immortal and the premiers win the Churchill trophy. He also helped St.George win the 1956 grand final. Bob Bugden, the Saint's halfback, said that Brian Staunton, the Balmain halfback, was not at his best and thought he was still feeling the effects of a Clive Chuchill head high tackle in the final won by Balmain.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Yes Les Johns played fullback for Australia and forced Graeme Langlands into the centres. I clearly remember his diving tackle to bring down Reg Gasnier in the 1967 preliminary final. That tackle ended the Saints winning run.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Maybe swap with Cody Ramsey in defence although Cody hasn't been great catching the high kicks. Maybe swap with Corey Norman in defence. We'll have to see how he goes against the better teams.
mbp
Guest
ps. great to see jack berlin back...! shameful is the NRLs standdown policy of guilty till proven inocent. now that the law has basically said he is inocent, will the NRL pay jack a compensation package. NRL... shame shame shame. your policy sucks. you hurt a inocent man and denied us the spectators watch a great player for the last two years...!
mbp
Guest
matt duffty is the most sensational attacking weapon in rugby league. his acceleration and elusiveness is as good as anyones and his passing skills are up there. he creates overlaps in the blink of a eye...! his defense leaves a bit to be desired but is improving year to year as he bulks up. the dragons are CRAZY to let him go. i reakon you could play the guy at half back or five eigth if you wanted and he be a success. i reakon hed be better than ben hunt in those positions. dragons need a rethink and to snap him up now before he becomes too expensive...! all of the dragons outside men owe a large part of their success to matt duffty including c amsey, m ravalawa y z lomax.... etc.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
You’ve already got a 6 .../-)( Cory
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Also will he swallow his pride and select Dufty for the rest of the season,even after they lose games
terrykidd
Roar Pro
I watch Dufty's defence and he is n0t afraid t put his b0dy 0n the line ..... en0ugh said, perservere and resign him