Canterbury Bulldogs fans received a glimpse of what’s to come when lightning-quick recruit Matt Dufty kick-started his career at Belmore with a stunning 80-metre try during his side’s 16-all trial draw against the Newcastle Knights.
Dufty, along with fellow recruits Tevita Pangai Junior and Paul Vaughan, had their first hit-outs with the Bulldogs as the club looks to bounce back from last year’s finish as wooden-spooners.
And it didn’t take long for ex-Dragon Dufty to showcase his blinding speed, with the lively fullback scooping up a loose ball and racing away for a near length-of-the-field try in Newcastle.
READ MORE: LeBron James praises Aussie rookie Josh Giddey’s ‘beautiful basketball’
READ MORE: Kevin Walters no closer to solving major Brisbane Broncos dilemma
READ MORE: Djokovic fires warning to rivals ahead of return to ATP tour
“Matt Dufty just doing what he is good at,” said NRL legend Cooper Cronk in commentary for Fox League.
“He went to put pressure on (Dane) Gagai, and shut the gate, he is gone.”
“There’s no one on the field that catches Matt Dufty when he’s got that head-start.”
The NRL world was shocked last year when it was revealed the Dragons had opted to part ways with Dufty.
Dufty says he’s embracing learning from his new teammates.
“It is a fresh start, it is refreshing, you know, it is always good to learn off new people. We have the likes of Fox (Josh Addo-Carr) and Josh Jackson here, who have been in the top levels of the game,” Dufty said.
“The way Jacko (Jackson) carries himself at training, anyone can learn a lot about that level of professionalism.”