Why Dufty has to play fullback Dragons in 2017...

[Dragsters]

Why Dufty has to play fullback Dragons in 2017

THE DRAGONS have turned classy juniors into champions over the years . . . and young Matt Dufty looks to be the next one in line.

The fleet footed fullback scored 23 tries in 22 games for the Dragons NYC side in 2016, the second most in the competition. He also racked up a whopping 3385 running metres and averaged no less than 154 metres a game.

A specialist kick returner – Dufty loves to exploit a staggered line and could very well be the injection of youth, pace and skill the Dragons lackluster attack desperately needs.

The 20-year-old was just edged out by Cowboys No.1 Kalyn Ponga in the NYC team of the year and you get the feeling this rivalry will certainly carry through into the senior ranks.



http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/dufty-play-fullback-dragons-2017/

This highlight reel (see link) certainly makes a good case for him.

Many have concerns about his size but I feel with a solid off-season in the gym to fill out a little, playing fullback and not in the front line in defence, his sheer speed and elusiveness can outway his shortcomings (pun intended)

Certainly would make for great watching!

 

[TomRedVRiver]

Every time I say Dufty should play fullback next year I get shot down.
This kid could be anything, seriously every time he touches the ball he's dangerous, and he's not THAT small. He's actually the same size as Lachlan Coote.
And for the record i've heard of some pretty successful small fullbacks/players in the past.. Matt Bowen, Preston Campbell, Brett Hodgson, Allan Langer to name a few.

He's got the ball playing ability we've been craving at the back and he's f**king quick. It's worth a shot I think.
Dugan/Aitken in the centres is a sexy combination as well.

 

[BennyV]

He will start the year in the Cutters, as he should.
He will fill in top grade when injuries/rep duties call, as he should.
With Dugan off contract this year, there's no need to throw him in at 1 yet.

Dugan/Aitken in the centres is a sexy combination as well.

Yeah, opposition coaches will be salivating at the chance to throw their backlines at that.
We'd also need leg-warmers for our wingers.

 

[TomRedVRiver]

Yeah, opposition coaches will be salivating at the chance to throw their backlines at that.
We'd also need leg-warmers for our wingers.

Wait.. What. Are you kidding?
Are you talking about defensively oooor? Because you're talking about two extremely efficient defensive players here.

 

[Sigurd]

It's worth a shot I think.
Dugan/Aitken in the centres is a sexy combination as well.

"Sexy" combination? Homey, please save your homo-erotica for the appropriate forum. Old Timer and his fawning over Gareth Widdop is already more than enough.

 

[TomRedVRiver]

"Sexy" combination? Homey, please save your homo-erotica for the appropriate forum. Old Timer and his fawning over Gareth Widdop is already more than enough.

And please save your homophobia for the appropriate pit in hell.

 

[Old Timer]

"Sexy" combination? Homey, please save your homo-erotica for the appropriate forum. Old Timer and his fawning over Gareth Widdop is already more than enough.

Well done Sigurd more lies and dribble from you my day would be all the poorer without it.

 

[mobels]

Happy for him to play first grade next year as I think he's close to ready, however I'd only have him in during the origin period or when Dugan gets injured - his body is not quite ready for full time first grade yet, and a year in NSW Cup is going to be nothing but beneficial for him.

 

[OzDragon]

"Sexy" combination? Homey, please save your homo-erotica for the appropriate forum. Old Timer and his fawning over Gareth Widdop is already more than enough.

....really?

 

[kit66]

He's got the ball playing ability we've been craving at the back and he's f**king quick. It's worth a shot I think.
Dugan/Aitken in the centres is a sexy combination as well.

Please No ! Milne is our most exciting centre prospect in many years and may be an important part of our salvation if there is to be one. Have you seen what Milne can do with early ball ? Duges on the other hand can run like a 2nd rower and that's about it - that's what he does, he's a powerful, reasonably fast second rower who plays fullback. Great defender on the line too and has to be in the team but sometimes I wonder where to play him in the backline ahead of other candidates such as Mann, Milne, Aitken and soon Dufty.
On Dufty, he's another exciting prospect and I can't wait to see him get a run in Firsts.

 

[BennyV]

Wait.. What. Are you kidding?
Are you talking about defensively oooor? Because you're talking about two extremely efficient defensive players here.

Indeed I am. Aitken, for his physical strength, has been poor in defence this year. His lateral movement struggles and he has been targetted with attacking kicks, where his confusion and failure to diffuse has resulted in several oppositiin tries (yes, I know tries from kicks dont count, but its still a weakness).

And Dugan is a brilliant defensive fullback. His positioning is great, his one-on-one front on defending is exceptional, he is great in cover defense. But defending on the edge, where he needs to make snap decisions and move laterally, he will struggle.

 

[Drakon]

http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/dufty-play-fullback-dragons-2017/

That's a very impressive video of Dufty's talents and I'm a huge fan of his but those long range tries aren't going to come so easy in the NRL. Nevertheless, I can't wait till the day comes when he wears the #1 in First Grade. And it will come!

 

[hazzbeen]

Every time I say Dufty should play fullback next year I get shot down.
This kid could be anything, seriously every time he touches the ball he's dangerous, and he's not THAT small. He's actually the same size as Lachlan Coote.
And for the record i've heard of some pretty successful small fullbacks/players in the past.. Matt Bowen, Preston Campbell, Brett Hodgson, Allan Langer to name a few.

He's got the ball playing ability we've been craving at the back and he's f**king quick. It's worth a shot I think.
Dugan/Aitken in the centres is a sexy combination as well.

Agree I would play him . I remember a couple of young kids getting a chance with West Tigers Moses Brooks ...

 

[Dragonslayer]

Indeed I am. Aitken, for his physical strength, has been poor in defence this year. His lateral movement struggles and he has been targetted with attacking kicks, where his confusion and failure to diffuse has resulted in several oppositiin tries (yes, I know tries from kicks dont count, but its still a weakness).

And Dugan is a brilliant defensive fullback. His positioning is great, his one-on-one front on defending is exceptional, he is great in cover defense. But defending on the edge, where he needs to make snap decisions and move laterally, he will struggle.

Agree with this BennyV.
Aitken is a great player and has a very promising career ahead, and hopefully that is with the Dragons. However, centre is not his position going forward. As you allude to, his height and lateral defence are a major concern and opposition coaches have targeted him in these areas. My opinion is that he should really be suited to a lock, in the ilk of Gallen. Close to the ruck he could use his power to score tries and be very effective as a one-on-one defender in the line.
The reality is that Dugan will be fullback, Nighty will be one wing and Milne as one of the centres. The signing of Nona really eliminates the 5/8 roll and no doubt Widdop will move to 7 (as he will play for England). As for the other wing/centre, I would leave Mann on the wing (even JD had him there and left Milne and Dodd as centres)and put McDonald into the centre.
With the likes of Garrick, Herbert, Field and Dufty in the waiting room, Aitken needs to develop into a forward and this is where he will really show his talents.

 

[Mr Red]

I was hoping for Dufty to get blooded on the wing next season in order to give him time to physically develop a little more for the rigours of fullback, kinda like the eels are doing with bevan French .
But alas, they felt it made more sense to buy nene MacDonald, who apart from being a target for cross field bombs doesn't offer anything more than Dufty could.

Downside of Dufty at fullback is Dugan would stifle our right side at centre, and force a specialist right centre to play on the left..

 

[hewi]

IMO the most important thing from 4 nations will be how Widdop goes at 1/2 with a proper coach. I think he has ability, however I think been coached by you know who has totally destroyed him. If Bennett gets him firing how good would that be!!!!

 

[BennyV]

Agree with this BennyV.
Aitken is a great player and has a very promising career ahead, and hopefully that is with the Dragons. However, centre is not his position going forward. As you allude to, his height and lateral defence are a major concern and opposition coaches have targeted him in these areas. My opinion is that he should really be suited to a lock, in the ilk of Gallen. Close to the ruck he could use his power to score tries and be very effective as a one-on-one defender in the line.
The reality is that Dugan will be fullback, Nighty will be one wing and Milne as one of the centres. The signing of Nona really eliminates the 5/8 roll and no doubt Widdop will move to 7 (as he will play for England). As for the other wing/centre, I would leave Mann on the wing (even JD had him there and left Milne and Dodd as centres)and put McDonald into the centre.
With the likes of Garrick, Herbert, Field and Dufty in the waiting room, Aitken needs to develop into a forward and this is where he will really show his talents.

Im willing to give Aitken the benefit of the doubt for the minute, hes been under McDrinker his whole first grade career and showed in CvC that he can be a lot more potent with something that resembles and attacking structure. But theres no doubt his defences currently lacks.

However, there will be a question mark over whether or not hes in our best 2 centres in the next few years, consideringhow fast Milne is catching on and Herbert and Garrick to come through.

 

[Walpole]

"Sexy" combination? Homey, please save your homo-erotica for the appropriate forum. Old Timer and his fawning over Gareth Widdop is already more than enough.

Hang on numbnuts, you promised you'd only be appearing in Widdop threads from now on. That doesn't mean you can turn every thread into a Widdop thread and then carry on like a muppet. Back in your box until someone else brings Widdop up. I thought that was the deal.
PS. You're only supposed to use "homey" when you're posting under your Vas account.

 

[Uplifting]

Personally I'd definitely play Dufty at 1 from round when. Then I'd call Wayne Bennet to ask him what position/s Dugan is suited to.

 

[The Doc]

My 2 cents worth...
Dufty should play fullback in the cutters. Lets not forget how a couple of bad games at fullback knocked mann about.
Let dufty adapt to playing against men with the cutters, with Dugan being Dugan, Dufty will get a fair few chances through injury and rep footy to Dugan.
But he needs to find his feet in reserves.
Also, moving dugan to centre means we loose Milne, and at the risk of getting shot down, id choose Milne over aitkens any day of the week.
And i say no to Dufty on the wing for the simple reason fullback and wing have different requirements and Dufty has to adapt to actually fullback play against men.
The kid has all the talent in the world, but a few bad games under a panicking mary will ruin the kid.