⏪ Matthew Dufty: 2026 Year in Review

Matthew Dufty's return to the NRL gave South Sydney one of the best metre-eaters in the competition. In his first season in the red and green, the fullback made 15 NRL appearances, averaged 226 running metres a game and brought up his 100th NRL match.

Dufty came home in 2026 after a stint with Warrington in the Super League, signing with the Rabbitohs on a NSW Cup deal. The Hurstville-born fullback had made his NRL debut for the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2017 and also played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

His chance came in round seven, and the timing could not have been better. Making his South Sydney debut against his first Club, the Dragons, Dufty played the full 80 minutes, scored a try and ran for 333 metres in a 30-12 win. A week later he scored again and ran for 327 metres as the Rabbitohs beat the Melbourne Storm 48-6.

Round 12 against the North Queensland Cowboys brought his 100th NRL game, and he marked it with 329 running metres, a line break and a try assist.

He returned at fullback in round 19 and made the most of it, setting up three tries in a 26-24 win over the Newcastle Knights. He ran for 304 metres against the Storm in round 21, then scored, made two line breaks and ran for 299 metres in a 22-6 win over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in round 24.

Dufty's game was built on taking the ball early and turning it into territory. He finished the season with 3403 running metres, including 962 in kick returns, along with 12 line breaks, 55 tackle breaks, seven try assists and three tries.

He started at fullback in the Elimination Final against the Newcastle Knights at Allianz Stadium, running for 222 metres and breaking five tackles in his 109th NRL game.

After grabbing his second chance with both hands, Dufty gave South Sydney a genuine attacking weapon at the back in 2026.