NRL 2021: How the Matt Dufty departure will impact on the Dragons now and in the future

Even though Matt Dufty’s future will take him away from the Dragons, the fullback will still have a major influence on the club’s finals chances this year. Latest transfer news.

Tevita Pangai Jr. talking with coach Kevin Walters, Brisbane Broncos training, Red Hill. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

With Matt Dufty’s exit from St George Illawarra now assured, Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has two problems to solve.

Does he cut bait on Dufty now and risk sacrificing a potential finals berth on the altar of the future, or does he still believe the 25-year old is the club’s best fullback option for today — even if he may not be for tomorrow?

And if Griffin does decide to embrace the next generation, how does he decide between the two impressive youngsters Cody Ramsey and Tyrell Sloan?

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Matt Dufty will line-up at fullback for the Dragons against the Warriors this weekend.

It’s a delicate dance for the Dragons, especially given a win over the Warriors this weekend will help solidify their place in the top eight.

For this week at least, Griffin has opted to stick with Dufty at the back while Jack Bird has reverted to the centres with Zac Lomax still a week away from returning from injury.

Bench forwards Josh McGuire and Tyrell Fuimaono will also make their return from suspension.

Sloan made an eye-catching debut against the Raiders two weeks ago after Dufty was ruled out with a shoulder injury.

The willowy custodian scored a try after a sharp chip and chase and constantly looed dangerous around the ball.

“I play a different style of footy, I love being around the ball. I try to take my opportunities and I’m still getting used to the fullback role and I still have a lot to learn,” Sloan said.

“Duffo has been really good for me, while he’s been injured he’s still on the field helping me out. He’s always giving me advice. I just try to bring that energy around the ball.

“Benny Hunt is real big on staying around the ball, always being around the ruck. I didn’t get my opportunity until the second half with that chip and chase.

“I’ve always been doing that growing up and I just saw the opportunity and I took it. The boys were backing me the whole game, they just said ‘play your footy’.”

Cody Ramsey and Tyrell Sloan are both in the mix to replace Matt Dufty when Dragons coach Anthony Griffin see fit.

For Sloan to get the jump Ramsey, who is more similar in style to Dufty, Griffin has urged the 19-year old to improve his work without the ball.

“That’s what Hook spoke to me about. He said if you’re playing at one under me at this club you have to be the best defensive player. That’s something I need to work on,” Sloan said.

“Just being excited with and without the ball, always counting numbers and getting them right.

“That’s something Hook was big on, he said I had to get the splits right. He said bring the energy you have with the ball to defence.”

Vision of Sloan’s debut went viral in the days after the match with his grandmother, who raised the Dapto product, on hand with almost 80 friends and family to support the debutant.

Sloan also revealed that some of the sport’s biggest names, including Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton and Josh Addo-Carr reached out to him in the days before and after his maiden NRL start.

“I’m pretty close with Latrell and Foxx and Jack Wighton, they all messaged me after my debut. They’re important people in my life, I get to speak to them quite a few times on social media,” Sloan said.

“I didn’t expect it, especially with Jack. We had a scrum and he said to me ‘congratulations’ during the game and I was like ‘far out, this guy is actually talking to me’.”

Storm land son of Dragons gun

Melbourne have landed Dragons youngster Tyran Wishart, son of Illawarra legend Rod, on a mid-season transfer.

Capable of playing hooker and in the halves, Wishart will link up with the Storm immediately after signing a Two-and-a-half year deal that will keep him with Melbourne until the end of 2023.

Tyran Wishart will join the Storm on a development deal.

The 19-year old will be on a development deal for the rest of the season before he’s upgraded to a top 30 spot next year.

A Gerringong junior, Wishart has played seven NSW Cup matches for the Dragons this year, scoring one try.

Walters halts Broncos exodus

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has moved to end to any further player movement speculation, declaring “no one is going anywhere” at Red Hill for the rest of the season.

An air of uncertainty was sweeping through the Broncos after it was revealed players such as Matt Lodge and Tevita Pangai Jr were free to find a new home because of salary cap pressures.

The situation was made all the more turbulent last week when Brisbane’s football manager Peter Nolan and the club’s high performance chief Andrew Croll were shown the door.

Walters said the club had hit the “reset button” leading into the back half of the year following a “tough week” at Broncos HQ.

Tevita Pangai Jr, talking with coach Kevin Walters, is set to exit Brisbane Broncos.

The head coach has spoken with several players, including Lodge and Pangai Jr, to give the playing group some certainty around their futures.

“I’ve told Matt and his manager that he’s not going anywhere, that’s he’s staying here,” Walters said.

“We just need to get some security and safety around the players and their futures and that’s the decision we’ve made.

“The uncertainty was one of the factors among the training group — who’s staying, who’s going so we’ve put it in a basket and put it to the side.

“No one is going anywhere.

“We’ve had those discussions with Tevita and that’s ongoing.

“We want security and stability around the playing group and for that to happen, all the talk around who’s coming, going, staying is all pushed to the side and not my concern now.

“My concern now is to coach this team.”

The admission comes as the club welcomes back strike centre Kotoni Staggs for the first time this year when he makes his long-awaited return from a serious knee injury when the Broncos host the Sharks on Sunday afternoon.

Kotoni Staggs will make his long-awaited return from a serious injury.

Staggs is expected to play at right centre after training in that position with the main squad during Monday morning’s session.

Playmaker Brodie Croft is also set to make his NRL return this weekend to partner Tyson Gamble in the halves while Corey Oates trained on the left wing.

Walters was confident Staggs was ready to return to first grade after having not played a game since September 24 last year.

“I have a lot of faith in our performance staff and we’ll monitor him throughout the game,” Walters said.

“At this stage, he could have played a few weeks back and he’s definitely ready to go.

“He’ll have a few nerves haven’t not played for some time but we just want Kotoni to make his tackles and run hard.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: How the Matt Dufty departure will impact on the Dragons now and in the future