Matt Dufty: Dragons teammates hail fullback’s ‘clutch’ gene after game-winning play

DRAGONS fullback Matt Dufty has turned his teammates’ trash-talking on the basketball court into declarations of respect after his match-winning display against the Raiders.

• Roosters prop Zane Tetevano catches train from Gosford for training
• Cameron McInnes hails Dragons pack as best in NRL

MATT Dufty, beneath a hoop, chokes.

Or so they’ve been saying in Wollongong all year.

St George Illawarra players have been lining up to spray the diminutive fullback in those pick-up basketball games they play between training sessions at WIN Stadium.

“Oh, we shoot baskets all the time,” Dragons lock Jack de Belin said. “And I’m forever into Matty about not having a clutch gene. Always telling him he doesn’t come up in the big moments. But that sledge ... I think it’s done now.”

Matthew Dufty tries to give Raider Blake Austin the slip. Picture: AAP

While all attention may be on the Dragons’ NSW Origin hopefuls, 83kg Dufty shapes as a key factor in the Dragons’ top-of-the-table showdown with Penrith at Panthers Stadium.

Outstanding against Canberra in Mudgee last Sunday, the explosive No.1 not only kicked for one try, but effectively won his side the game with a scorching 50m run that started with seemingly nothing doing.

Which proves you have the clutch gene, right?

“Dunno,” the fullback laughed of said basketball sledges. “Maybe they were just trying reverse psychology. I’m not sure”.

Certainly de Belin is now in no doubt.

Jack de Belin has no doubt that Matthew Dufty is a winner. Picture: Getty Images

“Matty definitely has the clutch gene,” the backrower said. “When he inserts himself into the action, he’s white lightening, can have such a massive impact on the game.

“Against the Raiders, he came up with that crucial play. At such a big moment, too. Went and made something from nothing.”

While Dufty made a couple of errors in the game, including an early fumble on his own tryline, coach Paul McGregor praised the way his young fullback bounced back to provide the matchwinner.

Yet the 22-year-old admits he hasn’t always recovered from errors so easily.

“It was definitely a rollercoaster,” he said of the game.

“And back in the day, I really struggled to let things like that (the early fumble) go.

Matthew Dufty breaks clear on his way to a try against the Raiders. Picture: AAP

“So it’s something I’ve really worked on coming into first grade. Just reminding myself that everyone makes errors, so you just have to move on, stick to your job and not lose your head.”

Elsewhere, Dragons skipper Gareth Widdop said it was important his side arrived in Penrith with the same intensity that has proved a trademark so far this season.

Against South Sydney a fortnight ago, a game the Dragons lost 24-10, coach Paul McGregor said his players had simply been out-enthused by the Bunnies.

“And we spoke about that not happening again,” Widdop said. “It’s certainly something we focused on leading into the Canberra game. Yes, it happened once. But we didn’t want it to happen again. To the boys’ credit, it didn’t.

“And we’ll need to be strong again against Penrith. They’ve got a big forward pack, great halves and have been playing tremendous the past few weeks.”

Watch every game of every round of the 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership on FOX SPORTS. SIGN UP NOW >