MATT DUFTY v the doomsday brigade

[Overseas dragon]

In their last year of 20.
KALYN PONGA
Played 21 games
Scored 12 trys
All run metres 2870
Line breaks 18
Missed tackles 37
Tackle busts 128

M ATT. DUFTY
Played 22 games
Scored 12 trys
All run metres 3391
Line breaks 22
Missed tackles 34
Tackle busts 157
THESE FIGURES ARE JUST BY WAY OF COMPARISON NEWCASTLE PAYING THEIR FULLBACK A KINGS RANSOM
WHAT DO YOU THINK DUFTY IS ON. I AM SURE ITS A LOT. LESS.

 

[2010]

It's weird that s lot of people were calling for him to get a run in first grade.
Now there a lot of people saying he should not be in first grade.
He will need time to develop in the full back spot.
McIdiot is not using him correctly on kick returns.
I read somewhere that a full back passing to a winger results in a loss of 10 yards because it allows the opposition more time to chase the kick.
I hope Dufty makes it but he needs the chance

 

[Crush]

This thread is just created for Overseas Dragon and Drag Queen to continue their war of words.

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

In their last year of 20.
KALYN PONGA
Played 21 games
Scored 12 trys
All run metres 2870
Line breaks 18
Missed tackles 37
Tackle busts 128

M ATT. DUFTY
Played 22 games
Scored 12 trys
All run metres 3391
Line breaks 22
Missed tackles 34
Tackle busts 157
THESE FIGURES ARE JUST BY WAY OF COMPARISON NEWCASTLE PAYING THEIR FULLBACK A KINGS RANSOM
WHAT DO YOU THINK DUFTY IS ON. I AM SURE ITS A LOT. LESS.

I hope the kid slays them in 2018 - great attacking player with heaps of upside.
Should have been blooded much earlier in 2017.

 

[JDHD]

In their last year of 20.
KALYN PONGA
Played 21 games
Scored 12 trys
All run metres 2870
Line breaks 18
Missed tackles 37
Tackle busts 128

M ATT. DUFTY
Played 22 games
Scored 12 trys
All run metres 3391
Line breaks 22
Missed tackles 34
Tackle busts 157
THESE FIGURES ARE JUST BY WAY OF COMPARISON NEWCASTLE PAYING THEIR FULLBACK A KINGS RANSOM
WHAT DO YOU THINK DUFTY IS ON. I AM SURE ITS A LOT. LESS.

Yeah Dufty is a gun. Not worried at all.

 

[nontime111]

laser cannon

 

[Frank Facer]

In their last year of 20.
KALYN PONGA
Played 21 games
Scored 12 trys
All run metres 2870
Line breaks 18
Missed tackles 37
Tackle busts 128

M ATT. DUFTY
Played 22 games
Scored 12 trys
All run metres 3391
Line breaks 22
Missed tackles 34
Tackle busts 157
THESE FIGURES ARE JUST BY WAY OF COMPARISON NEWCASTLE PAYING THEIR FULLBACK A KINGS RANSOM
WHAT DO YOU THINK DUFTY IS ON. I AM SURE ITS A LOT. LESS.

I think Nth Qld should have kept Ponga and let Coote go. I think he looks real good. I think Newcastle have got themselves a bargain at 600K a year for 4 years (more if he plays reps). The fact that Dufty had even better stats than Ponga in the under 20's, fills me with more confidence that he will make it in first grade.

 

[dragonssamy61]

Given a go and use correctly he will be a good nrl player

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

I like Dufty wanted him in 1st grade and am happy he is but Stats from lower grades mean jack shit, heaps of young players have had great stats and havent made it for one reason or another...

 

[Life's Good]

Dufty had a handful of games and in that time he showed improvements in defensive positioning, on field talk and looked ok under the high ball. He needs to work on his passing game and positioning in attack to develop as a 2nd 5/8 option. The good thing is this can be coached into him(coaching quality aside). One thing he has, which you can’t coach is, SPEED. And don’t we need it.

 

[KiamaSaint]

Dufty hopefully has a long term career ahead of him at the Dragons. He is a very talented player. Not sure why you compare him to someone at a similar stage but hasn't cracked first grade in a big way yet.

Edit: Just read AY's post. Exactly.

 

[watatank]

Ponga is a much better player than Dufty. One of the main advantages that Ponga is that he has size required for the NRL, that's something that Dufty has to overcome.

Dufty has ability and has earned his opportunity, but he hasn't proved he can be our long term fullback. He still has plenty of work to do. He started his NRL career well but I thought he was disappointing in the NSW Cup finals game when he should have gone into that game with a lot of confidence. Next season will be make or break in a contract year.

 

[JDHD]

Ponga is a much better player than Dufty. One of the main advantages that Ponga is that he has size required for the NRL, that's something that Dufty has to overcome.

Dufty has ability and has earned his opportunity, but he hasn't proved he can be our long term fullback. He still has plenty of work to do. He started his NRL career well but I thought he was disappointing in the NSW Cup finals game when he should have gone into that game with a lot of confidence. Next season will be make or break in a contract year.

Ponga's only got 5cm and 6kg on Dufty lol

 

[coast_dragons]

A hand full of first grade games isn't a true indicator to how a players first grade career is going to go.

Illawarra against the dogs in the ISP finals the entire team was rather poor and playing against a much more experienced outfit didn't help either.

Matt does have some things to improve on but that will come with experience.

 

[watatank]

Ponga's only got 5cm and 6kg on Dufty lol

Ponga is also two years younger than Dufty and he's going to get bigger. Anyway, there is no comparison. Ponga has been one of the most highly sought after young players in the game for a number of years. Dufty has talent and is intriguing enough but clubs aren't lining up to sign him. Like I said, next year is make or break.

 

[Carlton]

Acknowledging Dufty has some good attributes and a good record in the lower grades but having concerns about his ability to become an above average fullback in first grade is not an unfair position to take.

Fullback is a crucial position and if the team is going to be successful it needs more than an average or just competent fullback. I know, Dufty has only had a handful of games in first grade but he has not shown anything better than average at this stage. The problem with the calls to give him a chance are that by the time we know one way or the other a season has been wasted.

I hope he becomes the greatest fullback ever but the question is, is it worth the gamble or should we have secured an established above average fullback.

 

[ouryear]

Acknowledging Dufty has some good attributes and a good record in the lower grades but having concerns about his ability to become an above average fullback in first grade is not an unfair position to take.

Fullback is a crucial position and if the team is going to be successful it needs more than an average or just competent fullback. I know, Dufty has only had a handful of games in first grade but he has not shown anything better than average at this stage. The problem with the calls to give him a chance are that by the time we know one way or the other a season has been wasted.

I hope he becomes the greatest fullback ever but the question is, is it worth the gamble or should we have secured an established above average fullback.

Should have secured an above average fullback, introduced dufty to first grade on the wing like many other great fullbacks have.

And moved nene on.

Dufty may well become a great fullback further on

 

[FlameThrower]

Give the kid a chance...Dragons supporters tend to eat their own..
So let him have solid offseason, put on a few kilos and work on lightning fast kick returns. Work on his defensive game and let's see where we are next season.

 

[giboz71]

Whether it’s Dufty or someone else, the skill set required at FB was there for all to see. Speed, evasiveness, anticipation and at least something resembling a passing game.

Dufty showed all those qualities in his limited game time. As others have said, managed correctly, he’ll be fine.

 

[watatank]

Well we dont really have a choice either way. This is the direction the club has takrn. Time will tell if its the right one