Dragons fullback Matt Dufty ready to last the distance in 2019
MICHAEL CARAYANNIS, The Daily Telegraph
December 31, 2018 4:14pm
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Matt Dufty’s legs failed him.
His trademark speed was gone as the St George Illawarra fullback struggled with the week-to-week grind of the NRL.
Dufty had never run for so many metres before becoming just one of 20 players to break 3000 running metres for the year.
Coach Paul McGregor knew he was battling and had a frank conversation with Dufty ahead of St George Illawarra’s round 24 clash against Canterbury.
“I was feeling run down,” Dufty said.
“My legs were dead. My body was pretty fatigued. (McGregor) gave me the option of sitting out for the week or playing off the bench and I said I wanted to play off the bench. No-one wants to not play footy.
“My calves and legs (were struggling). I was doing that much running my body wasn’t used to it. Twenty three weeks of doing K’s and K’s — a lot of running just caught up with me.
“It hasn’t happened before. You can’t compare 20s or NSW Cup to first grade. You can’t clock off for a second because you’re going to get burnt. I found that out last season.”
Dragons fullback Matt Dufty struggled with his increased running load. Picture: AAP
The Dragons modified Dufty’s training program in a bid to have him firing for the back end of the year. But he has approached this pre-season with a different mindset to ensure his body can last the distance in 2019.
“They kept me off the field a bit more and let me freshen up,” Dufty said.
“It showed towards the end of the year because I was playing the footy I wanted to play.
“I’ve just had a long break. I wanted to get in and train as hard as I can and prove to the coaching staff and all the players I want that position back and cement that fullback spot for 2019. Maybe closer to the year I’m not sure what the coaching staff will do. But at the moment I’m training 100 per cent.
“I’m training a lot better than I was last year. I’m feeling a lot better. When your mind tells you your body is sore and you can’t do it, it’s just a lie. You can do it if you really want to. That’s what I’ve been working on. It’s really been pushing me.”
After featuring in all of the Dragons’ final seven matches last year Dufty had a goal of playing 80 per cent of games in 2018. He was just one of five players to feature in all 26 games this year.
“As a whole I was pretty happy,” Dufty said.
Matt Dufty was just one of five players to feature in all 26 of the Dragons’ games this year. Picture: AAP
“For the start of the year the first eight rounds were pretty easy. You’re playing footy again so that’s outstanding. It’s just in that middle bit when your Origin boys aren’t there. It’s a different feel when your whole team is not there but that’s where players like myself who aren’t playing Origin need to step up and keep playing good footy.
“(I need to improve on) effort areas off the ball and catching the ball on the full. All the things good fullbacks do. They are easy fixes, just a mindset shift.”
The off-contract local St George junior had to deal with uncertainty at the start of pre-season when he was linked with a move away from the club.
Dufty reached out to Dragons assistant coach Ben Hornby before meeting with McGregor the following day.
“I wasn’t used to it,” Dufty said.
“It’s something new. I only saw it when it got sent to me by friends and family about 100 times. That’s when I called Benny and spoke to him.
“I talked to (McGregor) the next day and he said; ‘he is definitely not releasing me for 2019’.”
