Warrington boosted by return of Matt Dufty for Toulouse clash

Drew Darbyshire
Matt Dufty Warrington Wolves

Warrington will welcome back star signing Matt Dufty from injury for Thursday night’s visit of Toulouse.

The Australian full-back has replaced Riley Dean in Daryl Powell’s squad on Thursday against Super League’s bottom club Toulouse.

Toulouse will be without Joseph Paulo (hamstring), Ilias Bergal (ribs), Andrew Dixon (adductor), Lloyd White (back) and Guy Armitage (hand). Sylvain Houles could name an unchanged team to the one that fell short to a 22-16 defeat at Hull KR on Thursday.

 

Daryl Powell on “must-win” Toulouse game and Matt Dufty

Speaking after their 32-6 defeat at rivals Wigan, Powell described the Toulouse match as a ‘must-win’.

Powell’s side just four points above Toulouse in the Super League table.

I know it’s there, I’m the head coach of the club,” Powell said. “I know it’s there. I’m not talking about it to the players but we know that we need to win the game next week, 100%.

“I think we can have a mini end of the season where we can play outstandingly well.

“I’m expecting Matt Dufty to be available next week, but I’m not 100% certain. If he is then he gives us a lift, although I thought Thewlis at the back today did some special things and put us in great positions.

“It was always going to be about next week (Toulouse). We’re not kidding ourselves. We know where we sit and what we’ve got to do, we need to get after it.”

Warrington: Amor, Ashton, Bullock, D Clark, J Clark, Currie, Davis, Dufty, Harrison, Holmes, Mata’utia, Mikaele, Minikin, Mulhern, Nicholson, Ratchford, Thewlis, Walker, Wardle, Williams, Wrench.

Toulouse: Schaumkel, Jussaume, Marcon, Norman, Albert, Navarrete, Hansen, Peyroux, Marion, Pelissier, Puech, Bretherton, Hankinson, Sangare, Russell, Ashall-Bott, Peats, Belmas, Stefani, Gigot, Alvaro.

The Super League clash takes place at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Thursday (8pm), live on Sky Sports.

PODCAST: Alex Walmsley on turning down NRL, World Cup pressure & John Kear influence

FOLLOW: Keep up with all the latest on the Love Rugby League mobile app and podcast