Matt Dufty

[qld redvee]

I would hope we have a top replacement signed to take duffs spot otherwise why advise him otherwise ?
Obviously as mentioned prior Hook and co have come to the conclusion that Duff cant improve to the level required. If this is the case then maybe just maybe we have finally worked out that rugby league is a business and not a transit lounge to retirement as we have previously been. Remember when we moved on wynn stone + goodwin 3 stalwarts we were devestated ? Now we may be having the same thing happening .. move players on whilst attempting to buy better to improve team . likes of Norman JP etc not resigned in order to give the young talent their time or buy a better player, but we still need enough talent to fill the 30 without exposing the kids to young
duff is our main / only attacking weapon and now with his injury you would think that we wont see him back in 1st grade due to not offering a contract . Of course it maybe his manager that has inflated duffs asking price to an unrealistic level and we have simply said no too high bye bye .. we need our contacts in the inner circle to find out for us

as we have all said if indeed duff is to leave then I hope like hell 'we" have his ( who must be an attacker and defender ) all signed and sealed so lets wait for an announcement

 

[Forbes Creek Dragons]

Where there is smoke there is fire but I will believe it when it’s official.

 

[TruSaint]

I would be very surprised if that article went public without the Club having already secured their target.

My only question is, who is our target ?

If its Hynes, then wow.

If we end up with Milford, or Mbye though ?

One thing is for sure, Dufty is gone.

I hope we have improved our recruitment strategy.

 

[BLM01]

I believe Hynes or will Kennedy with an 11th hour offer are our targets if not a tentative agreement
But to secure either of these we would’ve had to Trump a pretty good offer from Brisbane and Cronulla for Kennedy
Milford or Moses are not suited to fullback any more in the current game and they’re best positions if any are in the halves
maybe it’s his kid from Brisbane Cobbo they’re talking about he might be thrown straight in

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

I can see this going horribly wrong. Hynes will go to Brisbane, Kennedy will stay with Sharks, Ramsey will leave after being offered big money elsewhere and we will end up with the Tim Lafai equivalent of whatever fullback is left on the market.

One thing I guarantee is that we will all be complaining about whoever it ends up being.

 

[This Year?]

I will be in tears if it's Milford, so I better buy shares in kleenex.

 

[Runner]

I believe Hynes or will Kennedy with an 11th hour offer are our targets if not a tentative agreement
But to secure either of these we would’ve had to Trump a pretty good offer from Brisbane and Cronulla for Kennedy
Milford or Moses are not suited to fullback any more in the current game and they’re best positions if any are in the halves
maybe it’s his kid from Brisbane Cobbo they’re talking about he might be thrown straight in

I don't think Kennedy is an upgrade on Dufty and I am not convinced about Hynes either. As for Milford and Mbye - they are clear downgrades.

Cobbo may have potential but is untried at NRL level.

 

[redandwhite4evr]

I can see this going horribly wrong. Hynes will go to Brisbane, Kennedy will stay with Sharks, Ramsey will leave after being offered big money elsewhere and we will end up with the Tim Lafai equivalent of whatever fullback is left on the market.

One thing I guarantee is that we will all be complaining about whoever it ends up being.

I will be REALLY pissed if Hook gets rid of Dufty as a full-back (probably rightly) because he hasn't improved but re-signs Norman who is much worse as a 5/8 than Dufty is as a full-back. The inescapable conclusion will be that Hook has favourites.

The Dufster should be retained as a 5/8 or dummy half impact player off the bench.

 

[BLM01]

I don't think Kennedy is an upgrade on Dufty and I am not convinced about Hynes either. As for Milford and Mbye - they are clear downgrades.

Cobbo may have potential but is untried at NRL level.

Agree to disagree re Hynes snd Kennedy
They both don’t mind collision and are better defenders
they may not be as quick but Kennedy just about is
Agree re the M & M’s but we Would not sign them for fullback anyway
Reece Walsh snd young Roosters half At 18 did not have experience either

 

[Slackboy72]

"They've been trying to move him for two off-seasons. I'm not going to go any further than that, it's just the truth," Gould said.

"Matt's aware of that and the Dragons have certainly got other plans.

"As to the reasons why the Dragons don't want him, I don't think that it's football related."

Any guesses as to what the non-football reasons are?

 

[be55]

You really didn't have to be Nostradamus to see this coming...For the last month or so every time Hook was interviewed about good performances from Dufty has was always quick to pour cold water on things and say that Matt had things to work on as far as his overall game was concerned...

I must admit that a couple of years back, i was all for getting rid of him but i think he has really improved the last year or so, especially when the last coach imposter, changed our attacking structure to allow Matt to get the ball out the back, off a two pass shift, with space around him. This really did allow his ball playing abilities to shine, which Matt always displayed as a junior...

He was never going to have a strong carry from the back field, or be a top notch defensive fullback, but with ball in hand and space to move, he is an absolute weapon...

Like i said, i'm torn with this one, but hopefully the club has made the right call...

I remember one of the first interviews Hook did after the first few training sessions, he was asked who had impressed him, and he was quick to say "Tyrell Sloan". I think the club see him as our eventual, long term fullback...

I'm wrong on most things, but i'll have a stab at what i think, the club might be thinking...

With the news the club is chasing Nicho Hynes to play fullback next year, if we could land him then next year we could line up...

1 Hynes
6 Sullivan
7 Hunt

Hunt is contracted for 2022 with a player option for 2023. Next year with Norman gone (please don't re-sign him Hook, i don't want my head to explode) Sullivan can play in the halves with Hunt and Hynes at fullback. I'm fairly sure that Hynes's preferred position is five-eighth, so come 2023, if things progress as the club might be planning, we could see something like

1 Sloan (or Ramsey if Sloan isn't ready)
6 Hynes
7 Sullivan

Hunt has a player option for 2023 on big money so unless he wants to go home to Brisbane or maybe the new franchise might look at him, if he takes up that option you could move him to dummy half, because i can't see McCullough still going around in 2023 even though he is contracted until then. Also, i think as mentioned by fellow forum members, i think the club see Amone's future as a ball playing lock...

Maybe by 2023 we could be looking at

1 Sloan (or Ramsey if Sloan isn't ready)
6 Hynes
7 Sullivan
9 Hunt (if he takes up the player option)
13 Amone

Obviously i understand that, it is no way a given, that these young kids make it in first grade. The road is littered with juniors that couldn't make the step up, but i am sure the club has high hopes for someone like Tyrell but only time will tell if he makes it or not.

Shout out to @possm...this team prediction stuff really does get your mind racing...I suppose we all think we missed our calling as first grade coaches in some way, and all us fans just want whatever direction that the club heads in, to be the correct one, so we can get back to where we belong...on top.

Anyway rant over...i had the arvo off and felt like venting when i heard the news about Dufty...Have a good day everyone

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Any guesses as to what the non-football reasons are?

I'm guessing he urinates in the shower.

 

[TruSaint]

You really didn't have to be Nostradamus to see this coming...For the last month or so every time Hook was interviewed about good performances from Dufty has was always quick to pour cold water on things and say that Matt had things to work on as far as his overall game was concerned...

I must admit that a couple of years back, i was all for getting rid of him but i think he has really improved the last year or so, especially when the last coach imposter, changed our attacking structure to allow Matt to get the ball out the back, off a two pass shift, with space around him. This really did allow his ball playing abilities to shine, which Matt always displayed as a junior...

He was never going to have a strong carry from the back field, or be a top notch defensive fullback, but with ball in hand and space to move, he is an absolute weapon...

Like i said, i'm torn with this one, but hopefully the club has made the right call...

I remember one of the first interviews Hook did after the first few training sessions, he was asked who had impressed him, and he was quick to say "Tyrell Sloan". I think the club see him as our eventual, long term fullback...

I'm wrong on most things, but i'll have a stab at what i think, the club might be thinking...

With the news the club is chasing Nicho Hynes to play fullback next year, if we could land him then next year we could line up...

1 Hynes
6 Sullivan
7 Hunt

Hunt is contracted for 2022 with a player option for 2023. Next year with Norman gone (please don't re-sign him Hook, i don't want my head to explode) Sullivan can play in the halves with Hunt and Hynes at fullback. I'm fairly sure that Hynes's preferred position is five-eighth, so come 2023, if things progress as the club might be planning, we could see something like

1 Sloan (or Ramsey if Sloan isn't ready)
6 Hynes
7 Sullivan

Hunt has a player option for 2023 on big money so unless he wants to go home to Brisbane or maybe the new franchise might look at him, if he takes up that option you could move him to dummy half, because i can't see McCullough still going around in 2023 even though he is contracted until then. Also, i think as mentioned by fellow forum members, i think the club see Amone's future as a ball playing lock...

Maybe by 2023 we could be looking at

1 Sloan (or Ramsey if Sloan isn't ready)
6 Hynes
7 Sullivan
9 Hunt (if he takes up the player option)
13 Amone

Obviously i understand that, it is no way a given, that these young kids make it in first grade. The road is littered with juniors that couldn't make the step up, but i am sure the club has high hopes for someone like Tyrell but only time will tell if he makes it or not.

Shout out to @possm...this team prediction stuff really does get your mind racing...I suppose we all think we missed our calling as first grade coaches in some way, and all us fans just want whatever direction that the club heads in, to be the correct one, so we can get back to where we belong...on top.

Anyway rant over...i had the arvo off and felt like venting when i heard the news about Dufty...Have a good day everyone

Great summary.

I am not shocked at all, as you say, our coach has passively dismissed Dufty on a few occasions.

Seems to me there are many moving pieces, all revolving around our spine.

Im happy to see the Club rebuild for a few seasons if it means getting the mix between our juniors and external signings right.

Let's see what pans out.

 

[Gareth67]

I'm guessing he urinates in the shower.

I hope it wasn’t over big Josh McGuires legs .

 

[redv13]

No doubt Dufty is a great attacking weapon with both his speed and passing
Defence and being caught out of position
Defusing bombs/grabber kicks: more than
The problem with Dufty is he can score a scintillating try or set 1 or 2 up then he has clangers every game that leads to tries. Off the top of my head this year alone vs Cronulla, Manly, Warriors.
After nearly 80 1st grade games it’s time to accept the fact that his flaws cost us games or at the very least put us under huge pressure

 

[Wittenberg]

Well, as long as they have a top class player like Hynes or Pappy signed NOW i will go along with this. A 3 year contract gives the young in's a chance to develop BUT if we haven't and replace him with a "safe tried & tested NRL hardened No1" i will be spewing "

I'd say the new staff have given him some homework to do and KPI's on improvement that he hasn't either taken seriously or is in denial that he needs it. Or he is thick as a brick. I hope that all is not true as i wish him the best.

Agree with your sentiments denis but I am concerned about showing him the door. There must be more to it but we can forget Hynes…..he has supposedly already verbally agreed to become a Bronco and Pappy has resigned with the Storm. Who else? I know people might point to the Cronulla fullback, based on last week’s game, but I don’t see him as outstanding and Ramsey has not convinced me yet that he will be a standout fullback. Hopefully he proves me wrong. A friend of mine stirs me about Ramsey being the ‘new Aaron Woods of the backline, all hair, a media poster boy with pace but limited ability. ‘ Again I hope Ramsey can shut him up and prove himself but I’m not sure.

 

[redv13]

Agree with your sentiments denis but I am concerned about showing him the door. There must be more to it but we can forget Hynes…..he has supposedly already verbally agreed to become a Bronco and Pappy has resigned with the Storm. Who else? I know people might point to the Cronulla fullback, based on last week’s game, but I don’t see him as outstanding and Ramsey has not convinced me yet that he will be a standout fullback. Hopefully he proves me wrong. A friend of mine stirs me about Ramsey being the ‘new Aaron Woods of the backline, all hair, a media poster boy with pace but limited ability. ‘ Again I hope Ramsey can shut him up and prove himself but I’m not sure.

Kennedy has been by far the best performing shark this year. I’d be very happy if we signed him

 

[Ghostrider22]

If Duff is gone, where is the speed coming from ? We have no one with speed, you need speed. Like BMoz and JMoz big strong with of plenty of Speed. Can’t believe all 3 coaches can’t mould Duff, must something more that they are not telling. So where is all the speed coming from?

 

[redv13]

If Duff is gone, where is the speed coming from ? We have no one with speed, you need speed. Like BMoz and JMoz big strong with of plenty of Speed. Can’t believe all 3 coaches can’t mould Duff, must something more that they are not telling. So where is all the speed coming from?

Dino would love all this talk of speed. Where is Dino these days???

 

[blacksafake]

Not sure why people are saying Hynes will go back to Queensland as he’s from the central coast & played juniors with manly. Hopefully he’s looking at moving closer to home. He’s also a keen surfer so living in the gong shouldn’t be an issue with him.