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Former Warrington Wolves full-back Matt Dufty is currently in contract limbo down under and has admitted that he is ‘open’ to a Super League return.
Dufty departed the 2026 Grand Finalists in pre-season, citing family reasons as his explanation for returning home. He initially landed a reserve grade contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, but ended up playing plenty of NRL this year.
With starting full-back Jye Gray injured, the Bunnies were allowed to promote Dufty to the first-team roster, and as a result he ended up playing 15 games, scoring three tries.
However, salary cap issues and the Rabbitohs’ lack of space mean that the side can’t afford to retain him for 2027 unless other players depart. The side has this week confirmed the return of Taane Milne, who is expected to form part of the club’s top 30 roster.
With so much uncertainty, Dufty has opened up on what his future holds, and explained some of the stresses that come with not knowing what he will be doing in 2027.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, the 30-year-old admitted: “I’ve still got a lot left in me, and this year made me realise that. Returning to the NRL reinvigorated my love of the game.
“I’d like to think I can keep playing another few years. The game probably suits me a bit more now. There used to be a lot of wrestle and the bigger bodies, but with the rule changes, the ruck speed, it suits me, and teams are happy to opt for that smaller fullback who can try and break open a game.”
Dufty admitted to struggling with consistency prior to his 2022 move to Warrington, but he now feels he has regained those week-to-week efforts upon returning.
With no contract lined-up for 2027, the 79-time Super League player revealed he was “starting to stress a bit.” Dufty has only recently got married, while “the expenses this year have been ridiculous.”
Starting pre-season training on his own, he confirmed to the Australian news outlet that he was ‘open’ to a return to England, but would see that as a last resort. If a move back were to happen, he’d expect it to come later in his career.
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