Matt Dufty

[LINESPEED]

We can add MAESTRO to the list of names for our beloved COACH. .. ...

I do like Waterboy though - as it kinda sums up the mental acuity & thé out of his depth/in over his head thingo

 

[GC Dragon]

McInnes is a tackling machine and Hunt is not a solid defender. Are you suggesting that Hunt takes on McInnes's defensive work?

Do we leave Robson right out of the 17 and risk losing him to another Club?

Hunt would handle playing at bit at hooker in defence as he does with QLD and in the test team . The idea would be he could add a bit more spark in attack than McInnes . Might explain why McInnes is training at Lock as well .
If that happens Robson will only get a go if there are injuries .

 

[Gareth67]

We can add MAESTRO to the list of names for our beloved COACH. .. ...

Buddy I have been calling Uncle Fester that for quite some time .

 

[DragonJ]

Good suggestion. That will work. Shows your thinking outside the square

Widdop could do with some PEDs as well. The highest paid fullback in the competition should be a good athlete.

 

[BLM01]

Widdop could do with some PEDs as well. The highest paid fullback in the competition should be a good athlete.

Now he is the highest paid fullback in the comp. As if you'd know!
1. He might not be even our fullback
2. Tell me the salaries of Widdop and the other 15 Fullbacks with confirmation from the clubs that you are correct...and then I may just listen or agree.
NEXT.......

 

[DragonJ]

Now he is the highest paid fullback in the comp. As if you'd know!
1. He might not be even our fullback
2. Tell me the salaries of Widdop and the other 15 Fullbacks with confirmation from the clubs that you are correct...and then I may just listen or agree.
NEXT.......

I'm glad we agree the highest paid fullback in the competition should be a good athlete. Pump Widdop full of PEDs ASAP! This is his last year for us. If he has kidney failure in 2 years, not our problem. That was a joke. I wouldn't like to again invite the wrath of @TruSaint down upon me. I guess by stating Widdop isn't the best athlete, I have already done that......

So anyway, Widdop 950k (total), Tedesco and RTS both around 800~850k total. Do you now understand how farcical it is? Only McFooknuckle could oversee such a situation.

I have to keep stating I think Widdop will do well at fullback. I think it suits his game much better than 5/8. But no way in the world he will prove to be a better fullback than Tedesco or RTS.

Have I already told you? Widdop and the team will be much better with him at fullback but he will struggle to win any Dally M points. Norman will get most for us because it isn't popular to award Dally M points to Ben Hunt.

 

[TruSaint]

deleted.

 

[possm]

I believe it shall be Lawrie possum - undoubtedly a bright future ahead of him , however the maestro will go for experience over potential (? )

I'm sure there will be two props on the bench and hopefully two young props, Lawrie and Kerr for round 1 and 2 until K Sims returns.

 

[Overseas dragon]

NICE TO SEE MARY HAS NO ROOM FOR PEARSON IN HIS SQUAD BUT DARREN NICHOLLS AND ALLGOOD AND LATIMORE .................WOW AND CANT FIND A SPOT FOR PEARSON IN A SQUAD OF 30000 so Pearson is Ill never mind ravalawa is there

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Hmm I wonder where Jai Field stands now ?

Will he be needed in the future ?

 

[2010]

He stands about 5 8 and is long way from getting a spot in first grade

 

[possm]

We have a lot of dead wood with most attracting minimum salary I guess. Is this the best way to provide depth in our top 30. In my mind there is room for players with long time experience at the top level who are in the final years of their career. I am taking about international players or at least players who have played at SOO level. For the rest of the squad, I think we would get more value out of young players from within our pathways program or from other clubs.

I see no value in taking a punt of players like Maranta, Runciman, Allgood or Latimore. I also recognise the blockage that Aitken and Lafai are causing with regards to Lomax, Pearson and Ravalawa.

Yes we can't keep them all however, to me it makes no sense signing Martanta and letting Johns go to the Panthers. I think it also a backward setp using Latimore and possibly Allgood ahead of young props like Lawrie, Kerr, Timm and Blacker.

 

[New Dragon]

We have a lot of dead wood with most attracting minimum salary I guess. Is this the best way to provide depth in our top 30. In my mind there is room for players with long time experience at the top level who are in the final years of their career. I am taking about international players or at least players who have played at SOO level. For the rest of the squad, I think we would get more value out of young players from within our pathways program or from other clubs.

I see no value in taking a punt of players like Maranta, Runciman, Allgood or Latimore. I also recognise the blockage that Aitken and Lafai are causing with regards to Lomax, Pearson and Ravalawa.

Yes we can't keep them all however, to me it makes no sense signing Martanta and letting Johns go to the Panthers. I think it also a backward setp using Latimore and possibly Allgood ahead of young props like Lawrie, Kerr, Timm and Blacker.

It’s a long way to a regular first grade spot but apparently Johns has had a very good preseason. I thought he always just needed a chance to train at that level to get the fitness and experience and sounds like it’s proving correct. He scored twice on the left edge on Saturday in the ISP trial against a pretty weak manly side but also set two up apparently. Here’s the clip
https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2019/02/19/isp-highlights-trial-1/

 

[watatank]

Looks like Matheson Johns is lining up in the back row there even though he had a centres number on

 

[denis preston]

NICE TO SEE MARY HAS NO ROOM FOR PEARSON IN HIS SQUAD BUT DARREN NICHOLLS AND ALLGOOD AND LATIMORE .................WOW AND CANT FIND A SPOT FOR PEARSON IN A SQUAD OF 30000 so Pearson is Ill never mind ravalawa is there

Pearson not playing at all and is on compassionate leave.

 

[Crush]

NICE TO SEE MARY HAS NO ROOM FOR PEARSON IN HIS SQUAD BUT DARREN NICHOLLS AND ALLGOOD AND LATIMORE .................WOW AND CANT FIND A SPOT FOR PEARSON IN A SQUAD OF 30000 so Pearson is Ill never mind ravalawa is there

OD, mate without knowing the facts here its a bit rough to blame Mary for the non-selection of Pearson.

 

[Overseas dragon]

OD, mate without knowing the facts here its a bit rough to blame Mary for the non-selection of Pearson.

yes true mate i jumped the gun im sure marys getting use to my rants

 

[getsmarty]

Dufty could be Dragons' new super sub

Matt Dufty looks set to start the NRL season on the bench for St George Illawarra. (AAP)


Matt Dufty's spot in first grade looked shot at St George Illawarra, but Dragons coach Paul McGregor has indicated he could still fill a bench role.

Matt Dufty could loom as St George Illawarra's supersub this NRL season as coach Paul McGregor weighs up how to use the club's young fullback.

Dufty has been relegated from the Dragons' starting side this year with Gareth Widdop moving back to fullback to accommodate Corey Norman's arrival in the halves, with the Englishman set to leave the joint-venture club at the end of the year.

After playing every game last season, the 23-year-old pushed his case in Saturday's trial win over Newcastle, with plenty of good second-half involvements and a try assist courtesy of nice footwork and a long ball.

And McGregor said there was still a chance he could fill a bench role for the Red V come round one against North Queensland, particularly given the versatility of his spine.

"Duft is an option to be in our 17 for sure. We can change things up in our spine if he comes on the field," McGregor said.

"We know Gareth is a world-class five-eighth, he's also been one of the better players at the World Cup at fullback. We know Hunty can play No.9, because he plays for Australia off the interchange at No.9.

"And Cam (McInnes) can play 13 so there is an opportunity to play them all at some stage as well.

"Duft is a really important part of our team, he knows that. That's why he stayed with us long term."

Dufty's case is largely helped by Kurt Mann's move to the Knights, leaving the Dragons without another genuine utility option.

Jai Field and hooker Reece Robson are other options unless McGregor opts to go with four forwards on the bench.

Elsewhere Euan Aitken faces a battle to hold out Zac Lomax at right centre. Both spent time there on Saturday after Lomax began outside Aitken on the wing.

McGregor is then expected to play his best side against South Sydney in next week's Charity Shield.

Fijian winger Mikaela Ravalawa also put his hand up for potential round one selection on Saturday, scoring twice with Jordan Perera the Dragons' most accomplished flyer.

"He is certainly an athlete, he is (188cm), 106kg, can run, changes ball with either hand, fends with either arm," McGregor said of Ravalawa.

"He is explosive so we have got to keep working with him because he is only new to our systems. But he is a big boy and something we are looking for as outside backs - speed and size."

Source AAP


https://www.sbs.com.au/news/dufty-could-be-dragons-new-super-sub

 

[getsmarty]

Why Dragons young gun re-signed despite losing his spot
Dragons

• March 5, 2019 11:45am
• Simon Brunsdon@simonbrunsdon
• Source: FOX SPORTS

Matt Dufty of the Dragons runs the ball.Source: Getty Images
Only a couple of months ago Matt Dufty was unsure if he had a future at St George Illawarra.
Now Dragons coach Paul McGregor says the 23-year-old is considered a “long-term player” for the club, and their future full-time fullback, if all goes to plan.

Dufty’s spot in the Red V squad was publicly guaranteed by recruitment boss Ian Millward in November amid speculation the young talent was on the verge of heading elsewhere.

He was contracted for 2019 but the recruitment of Corey Norman pushed him out of the club’s best starting spine. That followed rumours of a supposed rift with the coach late last year, and the request of a big contract upgrade on his next deal.


A month-long holiday to Canada when the season finished only delayed the contract talks, fuelling the rumour mill.

Dufty and the Dragons officially ended the speculation when he signed a two-year extension, keeping him in Wollongong until the end of 2021.

“Obviously things cross your mind and you’ve got to weigh up your options. There will be a time to chase money if that’s what I want to do,” Dufty told foxsports.com.au.

Matt Dufty pictured at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.Source: News Corp Australia

“But I’ve still got things to prove in the NRL, and with the team we’ve got this year I thought I’d be an idiot to pass that up.

“I’m very happy I’m staying. I think I’ve got a point to prove this year and show Mary I’m the man for the job in years to come.

“We started talking at the end of last year, and then I went to Canada for a month so it’s a bit hard to do it then. We came back and I started training really well. Then the whole Gaz-Normy (Widdop-Norman) thing came out and the club was really keen to get it done then.

“It’s exciting to be around the team we’ve got this year so I didn’t want to go anywhere.

“Moving forward I’ll hopefully cement that fullback spot for a couple of years. I’m thinking more long term than short term.


“Dragons are a club I want to be at, it’s the club I grew up at.”

Dufty spent the entire 2018 season at fullback for the Dragons but won’t be in the starting side come Round 1 this year.

It looks like McGregor plans to play Dufty off the bench. Fans saw a glimpse of the team’s new set-up in the Charity Shield on Saturday.

Dufty came off the pine to play fullback late in the game. It pushed Corey Norman off the field, Ben Hunt to hooker, Cameron McInnes to lock, and Gareth Widdop to five-eighth.

Coach McGregor has ensured the young No.1 has a role to play, both this year and into the future.

“Matt’s a fullback. Matt’s pretty important to what we do because if we’re chasing points we need him on the football field at different stages,” McGregor said.

“He’s exciting. He knows where he’s at, he’s a long-term player in our club, but he’s got some good experienced players in front of him at the moment.”

Starting fullback Widdop will leave the Dragons at the end of the year to move to England.

His departure will open the fullback spot up again, which Dufty plans to slide straight back into.

But for the time being, he’s comfortable sitting back and watching what will be one of the more exciting spine combinations in the NRL.

“It will be exciting when we eventually get me, Cam, Benny, Normy, Gaz all on the same time, that will be exciting,” he said.

“We can all run the ball, we’re all good runners of the footy.

“Ben’s steering us around but he’s got a great show-and-go and a great running game. It’s very exciting we can score from anywhere really.”

The Dragons kick off their season against North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday week.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...t/news-story/1122700b5a1935779049ac98f81c5ae2

 

[Gareth67]

I am positive that Mary has not only been reading my most knowledgeable and informative posts but has actually been doing as I have suggested . I did mention a number of times that Duffy would be better coming off the bench .

You can always contact me on my private number Paul should yo require any ‘ in depth ‘ discussion about team selections etc. etc .