Phil Clarke’s brutal assessment on Warrington full-back Matt Dufty
Photo by Steve Flynn/News Images.
Sky Sports pundit Phil Clarke believes Warrington’s Matt Dufty is not the right full-back to help lead the side to a Super League Grand Final.
The former player shared his brutal assessment live on Sky Sports ahead of Wire’s clash with Catalans in Perpignan during Super League’s Rivals Round.
Dufty, 27, arrived at the Halliwell Jones Stadium midway through the 2022 Super League season from Canterbury Bulldogs.
His addition couldn’t help turn around Daryl Powell’s first season in charge of the club, finishing 11th in last year’s campaign.
But Dufty has played a big hand in Warrington’s unbeaten start to the season, scoring five tries in seven appearances, and assisting a further three more ahead of the tie with Catalans.
Clarke’s brutal assessment of Matt Dufty
Despite his form, with Warrington unbeaten ahead of Rivals Round, Clarke has not been convinced by the Australian full-back.
“I’m not sure Matt Dufty is a player who can lead the side to a Grand Final,” Clarke told Brian Carney on Sky Sports.
“If you look at the sides who have made the Grand Final and won it, last year was St Helens with Jack Welsby at full-back.
“I think you need a player who can play out of the back and I’m not convinced yet that he has that.
“But he may develop over the course of the season. They could still do it without a play-making full-back, I accept that. But I’m not convinced.”
…Less than 20 minutes later, Dufty assisted Warrington’s first try in the south of France with a slick pass to winger Josh Thewlis.
The side currently lead 4-0 with 20 minutes gone.
Overall, Dufty has scored 10 tries in 13 Super League appearances, having been constantly scrutinised during his time in the NRL with St George Illawarra Dragons and Canterbury Bulldogs.
He made 94 appearances in the NRL, scoring 45 tries.
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