And having put together perhaps the best season of his career to date, Matt Dufty is in no mood for it to end anytime soon. The full-back’s influential displays during a campaign in which he has recorded more try involvements than any other player in his position and lead Super League for metres gained have seen him named in the competition’s Dream Team. When he’s happy, Dufty’s energy is infectious and boundless – something which appears to have had a clear impact on his teammates.
And during what he considers to be his best period in the game to date, he puts it down to one thing. “Sammy’s obviously got a lot of belief in me,” said the man who was named the club’s Players’ Player of the Year at the weekend before his Dream Team spot was confirmed. “He probably gives me a lot more leash than other players – he lets me be myself.
All of the players and coaching staff here have full belief in what I can do. “Earlier in my career, one dropped ball would have meant I wasn’t going to be playing the next week but now, I can drop 10 and know that I’ll still be doing a job. “It’s external and internal belief in myself and in my teammates.
“I was lucky enough to get the Players’ Player award, which says it all. They believe in me and it’s a pleasure playing with them. “It's probably the happiest I’ve ever been playing rugby league .
There’s a maximum of three weeks left and that kind of makes me sad. “At this time of year, you tend to f.
