I'm not so happy, after an inconsistent 18 months he's been rewarded for 3 good games against questionable opposition.

A couple of people went ape last year when vaughan was given an extension so soon into the season.

I'm happy with this as he has been superb this season. He has some weaknesses (high kick) & he will have quiet games, as all players do. Blocking the path of younger players is the main possible issue here.

Hopefully we are paying him enough to learn to take a ball on the full which I consider to be a fundamental skill of a fullback. But in attack he has been fabulous, in particular he is now setting up tries as well as finishing them off.

I know his taking of a high ball amongst opposition players is not the best but I think we could do a much better job of protecting him in that regard. I also think his actual fielding of kicks in general is of a high standard and his defence seems to have improved a lot.

To be fair to Dufty in (the season to forget) 2023 he was our second highest try scorer and third highest point scorer.

He is worth his place for his attacking skill. I think opposition sides, if they had the choice, would rather he was not playing. He is one of our few dangerous players with length of the field pace. Superleague's current top meter maker and top carries, 6 tries and 5 assists. He is easily our most potent back in 2024.

If we had not extended him, then learnt in May he had gone to our rivals for 2025/26, we would be unhappy.

7 appearances for McGuire? Didn’t think he was un-banned for that long!

No doubt Dufty has improved in certain areas of his game but he will still have that bad defensive read in him or just chicken out of making a tackle or catching a high ball.. attacking wise he’s quality and along with French and Field he’s one of the best open space attackers players.. is he worth of an early two year deal.. for me no.. he needs to show this attacking form on a consistent basis thought out the whole season and improve defensively.. then offer new terms.. you’d hope now he has a secure future at the club he won’t go off the boil..

Is it that early? In 5 weeks he would have been able to sign elsewhere.

5 weeks more to continue with this vein of form he is showing.. Dufty was average last season with odd glimpses of individual skill, just seems a bit haste to extend on the back of few good games this season.. would it be a great miss if he did sign with another club.. especially with Josh been mooted as a full back.. frees up cap space to strengthen other areas..

I don’t disagree really, before the season started I felt he should move on at the end of this year. But it seems the coaching staff were already convinced with him in pre season given discussions started then.

Was he average last year or did we not use him right? He seems to have found a passing game no one gave him credit for before and is regularly taking the ball up on play 4 to get more involved. That is all about game plan and trying to use him right.

Whether he signs now or in 5 weeks his performances could drop off, they wanted to see him in the new systems - they obviously like what they have seen. Better I think to get the deal done if they’ve made their mind up. It’s now the coaches job to keep him motivated and on form.

Whilst I wasn't particularly a Dufty fan before he joined, it was clear from the games I'd seen him play in the NRL that he was big on try assists with a typical clever fullback's passing game. He just seemed to lose confidence when things weren't going well at St G. His speed was a massive asset of course, but he definitely had a good enough all round game to get him something like 100 starts in the NRL. That's more than a lot of Aussies playing here have managed to get, including French and Field (not that I'm comparing them).

As said, I think it's more about a coach who knows how to use him properly.

Which coach is it though?

I`m guessing it is Martin Gleeson and not Big Sam.

The best attacking players, who can make their own space and are likely to run 70 yards are French, Field and Dufty. Is there anyone else?
(Wingers like Ashton who can run finish 'em off not included)