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Matthew Dufty
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Matthew Lawrence Dufty[2] (born 10 January 1996) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback for the Warrington Wolves in the Betfred Super League.
Key Information
He previously played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL.
Background
[edit]Dufty was born on 10 January 1996 in Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia. He attended Marist Catholic College Penshurst from Year 7 to Year 10.
He played his junior rugby league for the Penshurst RSL RLFC, before being signed by the St. George Illawarra Dragons.
Playing career
[edit]Early career
[edit]From 2014 to 2016, Dufty played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons' NYC team.[3]
In July 2016, he played for the New South Wales under-20s team against the Queensland under-20s team,[4]
In 2016 he re-signed with the St. George club on a two-year contract until the end of 2018.[5] In September 2016, he was named on the interchange bench in the 2016 NYC Team of the Year.[6] Dufty played 65 games and scored 55 tries for 220 points in his U20s career from 2014 to 2016.[7]

2017
[edit]In 2017, Dufty graduated to St. George Illawarra's Intrust Super Premiership NSW team, the Illawarra Cutters.[8] In round 20 of the 2017 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the St. George club against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles,[9][10] scoring a try and providing two try assists.[11]
2018
[edit]In the 2018 NRL season, Dufty made 26 appearances for St. George and scored 13 tries as the club finished 7th on the table and qualified for the finals. Dufty played in both finals games, the 48-18 upset victory against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium and the 13-12 elimination final defeat against South Sydney.[12]

2019
[edit]On 18 February Dufty signed a two-year contract extension to remain at St. George Illawarra until the end of the 2021 season.[13] On 25 April Dufty scored an individual 65 metre try for St. George Illawarra during their match against the Sydney Roosters in the traditional ANZAC Day game. Fox Sports Commentator Andrew Voss said of the try "What a try here at the SCG!, So many great tries over many, many years, and the name Matt Dufty belongs to one as of today. That is super. Tedesco is looking up saying, 'Which way did he go? ... How many steps Dufty? More than the Opera House!".[14]
Dufty made a total of 16 appearances and scored five tries for St. George Illawarra in the 2019 NRL season as the club endured one of the worst ever seasons finishing 15th on the table just above the last placed Gold Coast.[15]
2020
[edit]On 15 February, Dufty suffered a fractured cheekbone whilst playing for St. George Illawarra in the pre-season NRL Nines competition against Parramatta and was ruled out for six to eight weeks.[16]
Dufty returned to the St. George Illawarra side for their round 2 match against Penrith at Kogarah Oval. Dufty scored two tries in a 28-32 loss.[17]
In round 10 against Canterbury, Dufty scored two tries as St. George Illawarra won the match 28-22 at WIN Stadium.[18] This was Dufty's fifth try in three matches.
In round 20, Dufty scored two tries in a 30-22 victory over Melbourne at Kogarah Oval. Dufty finished the season with 13 tries for the club.[19]
2021
[edit]In round 3 of the 2021 NRL season, Dufty scored two tries in a 38-12 victory over Manly at WIN Stadium.[20]
In round 5 of the 2021 NRL season, Dufty scored two tries and created two try assists to defeat Parramatta.[21]
In round 9 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored two tries in a 32-12 victory over Canterbury.[22]
In round 13, Dufty scored two tries and had five try assists in a man of the match performance as St. George Illawarra defeated Brisbane 52-24.[23]
In June, Dufty was informed by the club that his services would not be required for next season as he was not part of their plans going into the future.[24] It was then reported that several northern hemisphere clubs, including St Helens, had expressed an interest in signing Dufty.[25] It was revealed in July that Dufty had signed with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on a one-year deal for the 2022 season.[26]
2022
[edit]In round 1 of the 2022 NRL season, Dufty made his club debut for Canterbury in their 6-4 victory against North Queensland at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium.[27]
On 21 July 2022, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs officially announced an early release grant for Dufty to take up an opportunity in the Super League. On the same day, Dufty signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to join English side Warrington.[28] In round 21 of the 2022 Super League season, Dufty made his Warrington debut against Huddersfield which ended in defeat. Dufty injured his foot during the match and was taken from the field in the second half.[29] In round 26 of the 2022 Super League season, Dufty scored four tries for Warrington in a 38-36 loss against Huddersfield.[30]
2023
[edit]In round 24 of the 2023 Super League season, Dufty scored two tries for Warrington in their 66-12 victory over Castleford.[31] Dufty played 28 games for Warrington in the 2023 Super League season and scored 13 tries as Warrington finished sixth on the table and qualified for the playoffs. Dufty played in the clubs elimination playoff loss against St Helens.[32]
2024
[edit]In round 5 of the 2024 Super League season, Dufty scored a hat-trick in Warrington's 58-4 victory over the hapless London side.[33] On 21 March, Dufty signed a contract extension with Warrington to remain at the club until the end of 2026.[34] On 8 June, Dufty played in Warrington's 2024 Challenge Cup final defeat against Wigan.[35] On 17 August, Dufty scored a hat-trick in Warrington’s 24-6 Magic WKND win over the Leeds Rhinos at Elland Road and was awarded the Betfred Man of the Match award. Dufty played a total of 24 games for Warrington in the 2024 Super League season as the club reached the semi-final before losing to Hull Kingston Rovers.[36]
2025
[edit]On 7 June, Dufty played in Warrington's 8-6 Challenge Cup final loss against Hull Kingston Rovers. Dufty played 21 games for Warrington in the 2025 Super League season as Warrington missed the playoffs finishing 8th on the table.[37]
Statistics
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Tries | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 7 | 3 | 12 | |
| 2018 | 26 | 13 | 52 | |
| 2019 | 16 | 5 | 20 | |
| 2020 | 18 | 13 | 52 | |
| 2021 | 15 | 10 | 40 | |
| 2022 | 12 | 1 | 4 | |
| 6 | 5 | 20 | ||
| 2023 | 30 | 14 | 56 | |
| 2024 | 28 | 20 | 80 | |
| 2025 | 21 | 8 | 32 | |
| Totals | 182 | 92 | 368 |
Controversy
[edit]On 5 July 2021, Dufty was fined $23,000 by the NRL and suspended for one game after breaching the game's Covid-19 bio-security protocols when he attended a party along with 12 other St. George Illawarra players at Paul Vaughan's property.[38]
References
[edit]- ^ "Matthew Dufty - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ Walter, Brad (22 April 2021). "Why Anzac round means so much to NRL stars". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "D". NYC Database. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "NSW Under-20s Team Announcement". NSWRL. 7 July 2016. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "Dragons Re-Sign Dufty". St George Illawarra Dragons. 27 July 2016. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "2016 Holden Cup Team of the Year announced". NRL.com. 5 September 2016. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "18thman - U20s Player Records". 18thman.com.
- ^ "NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership - 2017 Round 3". League Unlimited. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "Updated team lists: Dragons v Sea Eagles". NRL.com. 23 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "NRL Late Mail: Round 20 v Sea Eagles". St George Illawarra Dragons. 23 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ Gabor, Martin (23 July 2017). "Points galore as Dragons thump Manly". NRL.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ McDonough, Joe (14 December 2018). "'The boys get around Duff': Dragons back their fullback to hold spot". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018.
- ^ Mee, Cameron (18 February 2019). "Matt Dufty extends stay at St George Illawarra with contract extension". Illawarra Mercury. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019.
- ^ Whittaker, Troy (25 April 2019). "Roosters v Dragons: Matt Dufty scores jaw-dropping 65-metre solo try". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019.
- ^ Chisholm, Ed (2 September 2019). "Paul McGregor facing the axe as St. George Illawarra Dragons coach following horror season". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019.
- ^ "Dragons fullback Matt Dufty suffers cheekbone injury in Perth after horror head clash at NRL Nines". Wide World of Sports. Nine Digital. AAP. 15 February 2020. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020.
- ^ St John, Mark (20 March 2020). "Matt Dufty settles fullback debate with two try masterclass for Dragons". Fox Sports Australia. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020.
- ^ "Sea Eagles Stun Eels Dogs Blow It Late". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ Clarke, George (27 September 2020). "Tyson Frizell signs off in style as St George Illawarra Dragons down second-string Storm". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "South Sydney Rabbitohs defeat Sydney Roosters 26-16, St George Illawarra Dragons beat Manly Sea Eagles 38-12". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. AAP. 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ Whittaker, Troy (11 April 2021). "Dragons knock Eels out of top four with fourth straight win". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "St George Illawarra beats Canterbury Bulldogs 32-12, Manly defeats New Zealand Warriors 38-32". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. AAP. 9 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ Kennedy, Chris (3 June 2021). "Off-contract Dufty brilliant as Broncos put to the sword". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ Walter, Brad; Newton, Alicia (14 June 2021). "'Special kids': Norman on call to back rookies at his expense". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ Pengilly, Adam (18 June 2021). "Unwanted Dragons fullback Dufty may become a different kind of Saint". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ Conrad, Alex (10 July 2021). "Matt Dufty secured by NRL cellar-dwellers". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ "Canterbury Bulldogs edge North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville, Parramatta Eels beat Gold Coast Titans". www.msn.com.
- ^ "Matt Dufty: Warrington Wolves sign full-back from Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs". www.bbc.com.
- ^ "Matt Dufty granted early release". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "Super League: Huddersfield Giants 38-36 Warrington Wolves - Matt Dufty scores four tries as Wire comeback falls short". www.bbc.com.
- ^ "Super League: Warrington Wolves 66-12 Castleford Tigers - Wire demolish struggling Tigers". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Highs and lows from Warrington Wolves' 2023 season". www.warringtonguardian.co.uk.
- ^ "London Broncos 4-58 Warrington Wolves: Two hat-tricks help Wire return to top spot". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Matt Dufty: Warrington Wolves full-back signs new deal until end of 2026 season". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Wigan beat Warrington to win Challenge Cup". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Warrington Wolves 2024 season review, February and March". www.warringtonguardian.co.uk.
- ^ "In pictures: Hull KR Challenge Cup victory parade". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "St George Illawarra Dragons players fined $305,000 and given match suspensions". National Rugby League. 5 July 2021. Archived from the original on 6 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
External links
[edit]Matthew Dufty
View on GrokipediaBackground
Early life
Matthew Dufty was born on 10 January 1996 in Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia. He grew up in the Hurstville area, where he developed an early interest in sports.[6] Dufty's parents are Glenn and Leonie Dufty, who reside in Sydney and have been supportive of his career, often traveling to watch his games.[7][8] His introduction to rugby league came at age four, after being rejected from a soccer camp, which sparked his passion for the sport and led him to become a dedicated student of rugby league.[7] As of recent measurements, Dufty stands at 179 cm tall and weighs 83 kg.[3]Junior career
Matthew Dufty began his organised rugby league journey playing for the Penshurst RSL RLFC in the St. George Junior Rugby League competition.[9] Around 2014, Dufty joined the St. George Illawarra Dragons' development system, progressing to their National Youth Competition (NYC) side. In his NYC tenure from 2014 to 2016, he appeared in 65 games, scoring 55 tries, a competition record that underscored his emergence as one of the top under-20 prospects in Australian rugby league.[10] His standout seasons included 21 tries in 2014, 11 tries across 19 appearances in 2015, and a league-leading 23 tries in 2016, where he also recorded 22 try assists.[11][12][13] In July 2016, Dufty was selected as fullback for the New South Wales Under-20s team, featuring in their State of Origin Under-20s series opener against Queensland, where he scored a try in a 26-24 victory.[14] Throughout his junior career, Dufty was noted in scouting reports for his exceptional speed and try-scoring prowess, using his quick acceleration and agile footwork to consistently break defences and create opportunities for teammates.[15]Club career
St. George Illawarra Dragons
Matthew Dufty made his NRL debut for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in round 20 of the 2017 season against the Manly Sea Eagles, after spending time in reserve grade with the Illawarra Cutters.[16][17] In a 52-22 victory, he starred at fullback and scored a try in the 79th minute, marking an impressive entry into first grade.[18][19] Dufty featured in 7 games that year, crossing for 3 tries overall.[2] The 2018 season saw Dufty establish himself as the Dragons' primary fullback, playing 26 games and scoring 13 tries.[2] His pace and ball-handling skills were instrumental in key matches, including a starring performance in a pre-season win over Hull FC that solidified his position.[20] The Dragons finished fifth and qualified for the finals, with Dufty contributing to their attacking output through effective partnerships with wingers like Mikaele Ravalawa.[21] In 2019, Dufty appeared in 16 games, scoring 5 tries, amid a challenging season where the Dragons finished 15th on the ladder.[2] He faced personal hurdles, including a mid-season form dip that led to his omission from the squad during a four-match losing streak, with Zac Lomax temporarily taking the fullback role.[22] Dufty played 18 games in the shortened 2020 NRL season, impacted by COVID-19 protocols, and managed 13 tries despite dealing with injuries.[2] His adaptability shone through in the condensed schedule, where he ranked highly among fullbacks for overall impact, supporting the team's efforts in a transitional year.[23] During the 2021 season, Dufty featured in 15 games and scored 10 tries, showcasing strong attacking form at fullback.[2] However, contract negotiations stalled, and in July, the Dragons informed him he would not be re-signed beyond the year, leading to his release.[24][25] Over his five seasons with the Dragons from 2017 to 2021, Dufty played 82 games and scored 44 tries, primarily as fullback, where his speed facilitated key partnerships with wingers and supported the team's backline structure.[2][26] His progression to the NRL was built on his status as a Holden Cup prodigy, having scored 54 tries in 65 under-20s games for the Dragons.[27]Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
In July 2021, Matthew Dufty signed a one-year contract with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ahead of the 2022 NRL season, bringing his experience as a speedy fullback from the St. George Illawarra Dragons to bolster the team's backline.[28][29] The move represented a transitional opportunity for Dufty, who had faced release from the Dragons amid coaching changes and off-field issues, allowing him to seek a fresh start in a rebuilding Bulldogs squad.[30][31] Dufty debuted for the Bulldogs in Round 1 of the 2022 season against the Newcastle Knights, starting at fullback and scoring a try in a 16-4 loss.[32] He went on to make 12 appearances that year, primarily as the starting fullback, though he was occasionally benched amid the team's inconsistent form.[33][34] Notable outings included a struggling performance in Round 5 against the Penrith Panthers, where he managed just 41 run metres in a 32-12 defeat, drawing sharp criticism for defensive lapses.[35] He responded with a stronger showing in Round 6 versus the Parramatta Eels, accumulating over 140 run metres early in the game to help secure a 20-6 upset win, though the Bulldogs overall won only two of his 12 starts.[36] During this period, the Bulldogs languished at the bottom of the ladder, enduring a winless start to the season and highlighting broader defensive and transitional challenges.[37] Dufty's tenure was marked by limited overall impact, with just one try scored across his appearances and average run metres of around 129 per game, reflecting adjustment difficulties following his abrupt Dragons exit and ongoing scrutiny over his defensive reliability.[33][37] The short stint underscored his motivation for a career reset in the NRL, having turned down lucrative Super League offers to address criticisms from his time at the Dragons, including questions about work ethic and defensive effort.[38][8] His one-year deal concluded prematurely with a mid-season release in July 2022, after which Dufty departed the club.[39][40]Warrington Wolves
Matthew Dufty joined Warrington Wolves on July 21, 2022, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal from the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with immediate effect.[40] In his debut season, he adapted swiftly to Super League conditions, featuring in six games and scoring five tries, including a remarkable four-try haul in a 38-36 loss to Huddersfield Giants in his fifth appearance.[41] His explosive pace and ball-carrying ability provided an immediate boost to Warrington's attack, helping the team navigate the latter stages of the campaign despite a mid-table finish.[2] Dufty's form elevated in 2023, where he played 30 games and crossed for 14 tries, contributing to Warrington's strong regular-season performance that secured third place and a playoff spot.[2] The Wolves advanced to the eliminator but were defeated by sixth-placed St Helens, ending their postseason run.[42] Building on this momentum, 2024 marked Dufty's peak, with 28 appearances and a prolific 20 tries, establishing him as one of Super League's premier fullbacks.[2] He led the competition in metres gained, averaging over 190 per game, and earned a contract extension until the end of 2026 in March of that year.[43][44] The 2025 season brought mixed results for Dufty, who played 24 games and scored eight tries amid a campaign hampered by inconsistency.[2] Warrington reached the Challenge Cup final on June 7 but fell to a narrow 8-6 defeat against Hull Kingston Rovers at Wembley Stadium.[45] The team ultimately finished eighth in the Super League table, missing the playoffs with a 10-17 win-loss record.[46] In August, Dufty was stood down for one game due to an internal disciplinary matter related to an off-field incident.[47] Despite this, he remained a key attacking threat, gaining 2,722 metres and providing 12 try assists for the season.[48] Over his tenure from 2022 to 2025, Dufty amassed 88 appearances and 47 tries for Warrington, underscoring his role as a dynamic fullback who revitalized the club's backline.[2] In January 2026, despite his contract running until the end of the year, Warrington Wolves and Dufty reached a mutual agreement to release him from the remainder of his contract after three-and-a-half years with the club.[5] Dufty returned to Australia, freeing up salary cap room and an overseas quota spot for Warrington ahead of the 2026 season.[49][50][51]Statistics
NRL career statistics
Matthew Dufty's NRL career spanned from 2017 to 2022, during which he played 94 games, scored 45 tries, and accumulated 180 points.[2] His statistics broken down by club are as follows: with the St. George Illawarra Dragons, he appeared in 82 games, scoring 44 tries for 176 points; with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, he played 12 games, scoring 1 try for 4 points.[2] The following table details his performance by season:| Season | Team | Appearances | Tries | Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 7 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
| 2018 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 26 | 13 | 0 | 52 |
| 2019 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 16 | 5 | 0 | 20 |
| 2020 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 18 | 13 | 0 | 52 |
| 2021 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 15 | 10 | 0 | 40 |
| 2022 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 12 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Super League career statistics
Matthew Dufty's Super League career with the Warrington Wolves from 2022 to 2025 saw him feature in 88 games, scoring 47 tries and accumulating 188 points, with no goals kicked.[2] These figures encompass regular season matches, playoffs, and cup competitions.[2] The following table details his performance by season:| Season | Appearances | Tries | Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 20 |
| 2023 | 30 | 14 | 0 | 56 |
| 2024 | 28 | 20 | 0 | 80 |
| 2025 | 24 | 8 | 0 | 32 |
| Total | 88 | 47 | 0 | 188 |
