NRL fans are questioning why South Sydney have once again been granted permission to break the rules around using players from outside the top-30 squad, after the club successfully applied for Matt Dufty to play in Round 7 to replace Jye Gray. Dufty will play his first NRL game in 1421 days when he takes on former club St George Illawarra on Saturday.
The Rabbitohs had to apply for an exemption from the NRL to allow Dufty to play because he’s only on a NSW Cup contract. Under NRL rules, clubs aren’t allowed to use players in first-grade who aren’t in the top-30 squad until after Round 10.
Fans are questioning why South Sydney couldn’t just move Latrell Mitchell to fullback. Image: Getty
But Souths have successfully got around that rule twice this season – the first being when Ashton Ward played in Round 1. The Rabbitohs have currently only filled 29 spots in their top-30 roster, meaning they could have simply upgraded Ward or Dufty’s contracts and not had to apply for exemptions.
Coach Wayne Bennett also had the option of shifting Latrell Mitchell or Alex Johnston to fullback and using one of Edward Kosi or Moala Graham-Taufa at centre or wing. They also have Talanoa Penitani and Latrell Siegwalt (a fullback) on their ‘supplementary list’, which can be used to fill spots in first-grade from outside the top-30.
But rather than doing that, Souths applied for an exemption to have Dufty play fullback, meaning Mitchell and Johnston will remain at centre and wing. Bennett argued it would be detrimental to shift multiple players out of position, rather than have Dufty slot straight in to replace the injured Gray.
Souths got an exemption from the NRL to use Matt Dufty against the Dragons.
(Getty Images)NRL fans question exemption for Souths
But fans are questioning why the NRL has allowed it, given Mitchell has played the majority of his 187-game career at fullback. One person wrote online: “I’m actually shocked the NRL granted it.”
Another wrote: “An exemption for Dufty even though he’s not top 30. Second time Souths have been allowed to this year because they would have had to move too many other players around. So what. What’s the point of having a top 30 then?”
While a third commented: “Absolute joke. I thought you could only bring in a player if there are no suitable replacements for that position. Mitchell and Johnston can play there, so can (Jack) Wighton.”
Latrell Mitchell will remain at centre rather than shifting to fullback.
(Mark Metcalfe via Getty Images)
Dufty’s return comes against the winless Dragons, who opted not to renew the local junior’s contract following the 2021 season. “It’s funny how it works sometimes,” said Souths halfback Jamie Humphreys.
“He was obviously a Dragons junior and probably things didn’t end there the way he would’ve wanted. Probably couldn’t get a closer replacement to Jye than Dufty at the moment. They’re really similar in the way they play, so much energy and they’ll take those tough carries and make the metres that we need.”
with AAP