Dragons 2019: Dufty and Field re-unite on the big stage
Local Sport
STEPPING UP: Jai Field. Picture: NRL Photos
THEY were arguably the most potent one-two punch in the history of the NYC and Dragons speedsters Matt Dufty and Jai Field will be looking to recapture that magic against the Warriors on Saturday.
The pair last played regularly alongside each other in the NYC competition in 2016, with Dufty finishing that season with 23 tries.
Field had 15 four-pointers and 76 goals, while the pair also combined for 41 try assists in a run to the preliminary final.
Dufty has gone on to play 40 NRL games while Field has been drip-fed top grade action, with all six of his appearances coming from the interchange bench.
They'll play in the spine for the first time at NRL level in this weekend's magic round, with Field to make his starting debut in the absence of Corey Norman,
who suffered a broken cheekbone against the Eels last week.
Dufty says he's relishing the chance to re-stoke what was such a potent attacking fire three years ago.
"It was definitely a fun season that one, me and Fieldy were just going out and having fun and doing whatever we wanted," Dufty said.
"I can't remember if there was a [try-scoring] competition but there probably was at the time because we compete in everything.
"Normy's obviously a big loss but I'm really excited to be back playing with Fieldy. I've probably played over a hundred games with him so I know what he can do and everyone at the club knows what he can do and how exciting he is.
"He's just ready to go out there and show everyone else."
The first grade start is a reward for the 21-year-old's patience, having been forced to bide his time behind first-choice halves Gareth Widdop and Ben Hunt the past two seasons.
Norman's pushed Field a further rung down the ladder before he joined a lengthy injury list that includes Widdop and Korbin Sims.
It leaves Dufty confident his longtime junior teammate is ready to make the most of his opportunity.
"He's one of those players you want in your team because he can break games open wherever he's playing," Dufty said.
"I know he's excited. He played a few [first grade] games a couple a years ago and I think he's matured a lot since then.
"He's not just all about the fancy plays, he's about those one per-centers now and he does what he needs to do to win footy games.
"With Hunty coming to the club and then Normy this year, it's been a bit hard but he's waited patiently, he's worked hard and now he's got his opportunity."
It's a mentality Dufty's had to lean on himself this season, with Norman's arrival and Widdop's shift to fullback seemingly leaving him on the outer.
It saw him deployed from the bench before Widdop suffered a third shoulder dislocation against Brisbane in round three. It saw Dufty return to his preferred No. 1 jumper and, with Widdop still sidelined long-term, he has no intention of giving it up.
"Footy's a pretty cut-throat game and you can never say never in the squad because every team gets injuries," Dufty said.
"I knew my role at the start of the year and I was just going to do whatever I needed to to get the boys over the line and fill in where I had to.
"We've been a bit unlucky this year with two of our spine going down but now me and Fieldy have got an opportunity.
"It's obviously not good what's happened with Gaz but that's footy sometimes and I'm ready to take that opportunity with both hands."
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/6113705/dufty-field-re-unite-on-the-big-stage/?cs=302
