Everything Matt Dufty said on his move to Super League with Warrington

Drew Darbyshire 27 Jul 2022 2:50 PM

Australian full-back Matt Dufty addressed the media for the first time since making the move over to Super League side Warrington.

The 26-year-old has linked up with the Wolves on a deal until at least the end of the 2024 season.

Dufty arrives at Warrington having scored 45 tries in 94 NRL appearances for St George Illawarra Dragons and Canterbury Bulldogs.

On Wednesday, Dufty spoke to the media for the first time since his arrival…

How move to Warrington came about

Halfway through last week I was cooking dinner at home and my manager called me. He asked me would I want to move to Warrington early because the Dogs were willing to give me a release. The Doggies can’t make the eight back home and Warrington still have a shot of making the finals. I thought it was a good opportunity to come over early to meet the boys and staff and get a feel for the town, play some footy and hopefully get some wins.

It is a good test run to get the house sorted, get my missus settled in and stuff like that. I can help Vaughany and Moose (Josh McGuire) over next year. I can make their transition a bit easier like the boys are doing for me now.

Powell sold it to me: Matt Dufty

I signed earlier in the year so I’ve been watching all their games. Me and Powelly (Daryl Powell, coach) have been talking a lot. I know Warrington is a one-team town and I know how much they love their footy here. They want us to win a few more games and hopefully we can do that, repay the fans and the town. It is a big move for me and I’m really excited to rip in.

Powelly just wants me to come out and play some footy. He wants me to do what I do best and enjoy the game.

Debut

I’ve been struggling with jet lag a lot in the last two days and my missus is still at home in bed. I had a run around with the boys yesterday and got through a full training session. I’m getting better everyday and I’m looking forward to the weekend.

Why leave the NRL now?

I think it was more of a media standpoint. In the NRL they are a lot harsher and you are a lot more in the spotlight in Sydney. The Sydney teams get it a lot. I don’t read anything in the press but my mum, dad and missus were telling me (I was getting slammed). I was still playing good footy but I just needed a change.

I said last year that I wasn’t ready to come to Super League but I’ve always wanted to come. It has been a goal for me to experience the world, a different competition. It felt like the right time. I was talking to Powelly earlier in the year and there was still time to sign for another NRL club but I got really excited with the way he was selling Warrington and what he wanted to build. I want to help Warrington achieve something so it just felt like the right time.

I want to start enjoying footy again

Mental health is a big thing and I was lucky enough that I had people around me to help me through it. I said to my missus that I was really contemplating moving just for us to experience something else and for me just to start enjoying footy again. I was starting to get to the point where I was losing the drive to come to training. For a sportsman, if you are not enjoying what you are doing then it tends to affect your form on the field as well so I just want a fresh start and fresh change.

My style suited to Super League

Over here it is more of a free style of footy. There’s not as much emphasis on ruck control and wrestle that there is in the NRL. Everyone loves slowing the ruck down and wrestle. I think it suits me to a tee, I want to play the free, fast-flowing footy that suits my strengths and I think I can achieve that here. My best footy is still ahead of me, I think I can have two good years at Warrington.

Matt Dufty is in line to make his Warrington debut in Saturday’s trip to Huddersfield.

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