Dragons fullback Matt Dufty remembers Billy Slater’s chip-and-chase try from the 2004 Origin
DRAGONS fullback Matt Dufty was a kid when he saw Billy Slater’s famous chip-and-chase try for the Maroons in the 2004 State of Origin series. On Sunday he gets to line up against his idol.
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IT was one of the greatest State of Origin tries ever scored and it helped set St George Illawarra fullback Matt Dufty on his course to NRL stardom.
Dufty was just a kid when he watched Billy Slater’s famous chip-and-chase try for the Maroons in game two of the 2004 series. He then tried to emulate it in the backyard every chance he had.
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“That chip and chase in Origin, everyone did that once or twice and said ‘that’s Billy Slater’, I think that’s the one memory that comes to mind,” he said.
For the first time in his career on Sunday, Dufty will line up Melbourne opposite Slater, who is widely considered the best No.1 to ever play the game, when the competition-leading Dragons face the fourth-placed Storm in a Sunday afternoon blockbuster at Kogarah.
The occasion of facing the man he idolised growing up is not lost on the 22-year old.
“I’m very excited and honoured to play against him,” he said.
“He had just started playing when I had just started watching rugby league when I was around 10.
“He was playing rugby league then which is weird to think but it’ll be pretty cool.
“He was an idol growing up, he’s been the best fullback for the last 10-12 years.”
Like Slater, the Penshurst junior is diminutive by the standards of the modern day NRL player, weighing only 80kg.
Their likeness in size was also a source of inspiration for Dufty and the reason he not only admired Slater through a TV screen, but became a student of the Melbourne fullback’s game.
“He’s like me, he’s not one of the biggest running around but he’s the best at everything he does,’ he said.
“Benny Hornby (under 20s coach) used to say ‘look at Slater, he catches the ball on the full and he’s always there in defence’.
“I think he tried to put some of that in my game and now that I’m playing first grade, those are things that win you games.”
Dufty revealed he has his own 110kg secret when to help him prepare for the week-in-week out physicality of the NRL.
“I tackle forwards at training and it gets me physically ready,” he said.
“If you’re getting bashed at training you’re going to be ready for the game.
“If you have big Leeson Ah Mau running at you, there is not much bigger and stronger than him.
“It helps with your goal line defence if you’re holding up big boys like that and it goes a long way to helping you in the game.”
According to Dufty, the Storm clash will give the Dragons a true indication of where they’re at and whether their pack can dominate against the big men of Melbourne.
“Melbourne are going to really test how we are going this season. The boys are excited and ready to play,” he said.
“I think the way they have been coached and the way they play is so different to everyone else.
“They love getting control, the wrestle and playing the game to their tempo.
“It’s going to be a good test for our forwards to see if they can still get the quick play the balls and get that roll on.”