The pre-game chat surrounding the Dragons-Raiders match at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Oval was heavily focused on potential NSW Origin candidates, but with just over 10 minutes on the clock, there was only one name on people’s lips… Matt Dufty.
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The 22-year-old fullback dealt the decisive blow in the 70th minute as he sliced through the Raiders’ right edge before beating Jarrod Croker and Jack Wighton, capping off a 50 metre special, giving the Red V a 25-18 victory.
Dufty’s scintillating effort took Mudgee fans back to February 24 when he gave a cameo of what’s turned into an electric campaign during the Charity Shield match.
Sunday’s clash was the definition of topsy turvy as it featured six lead changes and three tries of over 50 metres.
According to St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor, the sign of a good footy side is being able to win when you’re not at your best.
The Dragons completed just 72% of their sets on Sunday but were able to compensate with composure in key attacking spots.
“I thought the control the boys had at different stages when we got good field position was very good,” McGregor said.
“I never thought we would lose the game but it was challenging at times when we continued to give the opposition opportunity.”
The game opened with a Matt Dufty line break but Canberra posted the opening try in the 5th after a Jack Wighton cutout pass found the chest of Nick Cotric who was too strong for Jason Nightingale.
After repelling the Raiders for the best part of 10 minutes, a Tariq Sims surge paved the way for Jack De Belin who crashed over the line in the 19th minute.
When the Dragons threw a forward pass during their ensuing set, BJ Leilua made them pay as he ran through a gaping hole to give his side the lead again.
A pair of Gareth Widdop penalty goals closed the opening stanza, seeing the sides enter the sheds deadlocked at 10.
Matt Dufty made an error in the 42nd minute, giving the Raiders good field position that turned into a Jarred Croker penalty goal, representing the third lead change of the match.
Cam McInnes had been quiet for 48 minutes until the State of Origin prospect blazed through Canberra’s ruck, kick-starting a long-range try that finished with Gareth Widdop pouncing on a Matt Dufty kick.
Red V faithful weren’t comfortable for long as Jordan Rapana produced a signature move with an off-the-cuff quick tap, catching the Dragons napping and scooting 50 metres to score.
The 61st minute featured the second most decisive moment of the match as Rapana was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul after illegally denying Nene Macdonald the chance to chase down an attacking kick.
Widdop squared the ledger at 18 with his third penalty goal of the match, before Dufty scored the match-sealing try.
Widdop scored his 17th point of the match with just three minutes remaining as he iced the contest with a nifty field goal from in front, giving St George Illawarra its 9th win of the season and leaving the Raiders four points adrift of the top eight.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 25 (De Belin, Widdop, Dufty tries; Widdop 6 goals; Widdop 1 field goal) def CANBERRA 18 (Cotric, Leilua, Rapana tries; Croker 3 goals).