Former Warrington Wolves man Matt Dufty has made his return to the NRL, after a starring performance for South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Dufty, 30, left Warrington this off-season, after falling down the pecking order at the club, but his move back to Australia has proved prosperous so far.
Featuring in the Rabbitohs’ pre-season game over St George Illawarra on Saturday, Dufty bagged a try against his former club, and made the most metres of any player on the field with 232.
He has only signed a contract to play in reserve grade this season, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see him lining up in the NRL first grade in the future – a goal that Dufty is hoping to achieve.
Speaking to club media post-match, Dufty reviewed his first game back, and was delighted with how it went.
He said: “It’s definitely a pretty weird feeling. It’s a full circle moment to play at WIN Stadium for the first game. But, you know, I’ve never won a Charity Shield [annual game between Souths and Dragons], so it’s a pretty special feeling.”
Dufty was asked about his ambition to add to his current total of NRL games, and given he is so close to a landmark number, he is motivated to earn a chance in the big time once again.
He said: “I’m on like 94, 95 NRL games, so I’d love to get to 100. But, you know, they’ve got a pretty stacked squad. And just to be a part of it, it’s pretty lucky.
“They’ve got Jye Gray there [at full-back]. Jai, he’s electric. I’ve just been watching him the last few weeks and he’s great to watch.
“I’ll wait and see what happens through the year. But, yeah, I just want to come in, strengthen the squad and just do whatever I can to make the boys better.”
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Former Super League stars shine in NRL pre-season
Dufty wasn’t the only player familiar to UK supporters to excel this weekend.
Ex-Leigh Leopards man Kai O’Donnell bagged a hat-trick for North Queensland Cowboys in their onslaught of Penrith Panthers – a game that also featured John Bateman and Jake Clifford.
Morgan Knowles made an instant impact for his new side, The Dolphins. The former St Helens man was involved in a tackle that left him busted open – and with blood pouring everywhere, it was certainly a tough first impression to his new fans and the competition.
Morgan Gannon appeared for New Zealand Warriors in their defeat to Manly Sea Eagles. The former Leeds man made 36 tackles, with only one miss, in his inaugural appearance with his new club.
