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Definitely not.
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Definitely not.
No fullback is coming here
stroke by the maestro . In fact ever so similar as to when Bennett got Mark Gasneir to return to the Dragons in 2010 . Perhaps our Mary ain’t dat stupid eftar all - premiership here we come in 2020 !
There is no need to shop around Dufty. Just let him know that he is playing reserve grade as backup fullback for the remainder of his contract and his manager will shop him around, ask for a release with NO compensation from the Dragons.Red V mad to shop around Matt Dufty
Reports that the Dragons are willing to shop around Matt Dufty caught me off guard. Surely they cannot be true.
DAN NICHOLLS
CONTRIBUTOR
NOVEMBER 7, 2018 - 10:34 AM
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TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 21: Matt Dufty of the Dragons makes a break which lead to him scoring a try during the round 19 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the St George Illawarra Dragons at 1300SMILES Stadium on July 21, 2018 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
When recent reports mentioned that the St George Illawarra Dragons were looking to possibly shop around their fullback Matt Dufty, I was shocked.
The fact that the club have not come out and immediately rubbished such reports have me literally scratching my head in disbelief.
How in the world could the Dragons, having moved on international and Origin regular Josh Dugan to accommodate the development of Dufty, be looking to move on their first-choice fullback?
Yes, towards the end of the season there were times that Dufty had off games. The kid is 22 years of age and in his first full year of NRL action.
The Dragons’ brass must have short memories, having already forgotten the blistering start to the 2018 season produced by their new number one.
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Dufty, much like the entire club, suffered during the Origin period and never totally re-found his form after, but there was a genuine three-week period where Dufty was the literal only route of attach for a struggling and out of ideas Red V.
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Ben Hunt had lost confidence and Gareth Widdop had lost the early season polish. The Dragons’ pack were not chewing up and spitting out opposition forwards like in the early rounds. The outside backs, try as they might, just weren’t bending the defensive line so often.
The Dragons’ game-plan legitimately looked a case of ruck it up for four, throw it out back to see if Dufty can create something out of nothing, then kick deep. Aaaaaand … Repeat!
The supposed reason for the shopping around of the 5ft10 whippet is his supposed laziness off the ball.
The 22 year-old, in his first full season at top grade, who is still learning the game.
Tough call if true!
Imagine if the Sharks had walked Valentine Holmes after his first stint at fullback?
Holmes, for all his try-scoring heroics on the wing in the 2016 Premiership winning campaign, struggled to adapt to the role of fullback. He stared in the role in the lower grades and the Sharks took steps to improve his confidence.
Fast forward and Holmes is one of the top three of four number one fullbacks in the game.
Dufty has the speed of Holmes and is probably a little more advanced in terms of ball-playing skills at the same point of their careers.
The only difference between the two is that Holmes has an easy 10 kilos on the much slighter Dufty. Otherwise, they’re not exactly a world apart in terms of skills set.
For the Dragons to even be considering shopping this kid around is pure madness.
Talk is they’re looking to switch Dufty out to bring in Jarryd Hayne. The thinking is that Hayne can fill the number one role under Jai Field is ready to take the reigns.
I’m a big fan of Field. If the Dragons want speed, they have it in spades with young Field. He is a slightly larger build than Dufty but hasn’t yet developed the skill set of Dufty.
He might. You probably could go so far as to say he will, but Dufty is hardly a player I’d be looking to move on.
If Holmes, as expected, signs for the Cowboys, I’d happily drive and pick Dufty up and bring him into the Shire.
If the Dragons’ long-term view is to move Field to fullback, fair enough, but Dufty is a player, who by that stage, would be well suited for a shift to the centres.
There’s even a chance, given his footwork and ability to move the ball quickly, that he’ll end up in the halves one day.
Whether or not he shifts or stays at fullback, I really don’t see being ‘lazy off the ball’ as being a deal breaker considering his talents.
Another off-season working with international halves will surely help remedy that.
If I were a Dragons fan I’d certainly be hanging onto hope that reports are untrue and that Dufty is given another season, at least, to prove his worth.
For mine, given his talent, I simply can’t believe the Dragons would even entertain the idea of shopping him around.
If it’s true though, let me know when I can pick him up and bring him back to the Shire.
What a talent.
Not similar at all. Gasnier was a champion centre with all the skills, Dugan well he is past it and would be lucky to last a full season.On the other hand if the Duges were to return to the Big Red V , it could very well prove to be a master
Your right because its a steelers coach coaching
I think the idea of Dugan coming back to play fullback for us is one of the most stupid idea's anyone has thrown up on this forum. We must be looking to the future, not the going back to the failed past. I have more hope for Schiller being our future fullback than Dugan and I haven't even seen Schiller play. We should be scouting for the next Ponga, Tedesco, Tom Turbo.
Your right because its a steelers coach coaching
Matey Dragons, Steelers , or St George Illawarra jokes aside if it keeps going as it is with a bunch of ex players running the joint with no outside influence we ain't going to last ......
Welcome Wazza.
Gday Wazza. That is interesting and not so sure about Saab to fullback but maybe he can play there.... if so worth a try!
This is akin to The Beatles anointing another band as the best musicians of the modern era..
I think Dugan to ESL.
The other band would have to be the Eagles.
grab for that straw babyOn the other hand if the Duges were to return to the Big Red V , it could very well prove to be a master
Muzby this should be shown in the sheds at half time , as our coach has nothing......
