Rugby league great Billy Slater has urged the Broncos to target Dragons fullback Matt Dufty after the unwanted star was crucial in St George Illawarra's 52-24 thrashing of Brisbane tonight.
Dufty finished the match with two tries, four line-break assists and five try assists after returning from a shoulder injury.
The 25-year-old fullback was told last month his services won't be needed at the Dragons next season, with reports at the time suggesting they were hopeful of landing Storm utility Nicho Hynes before he inked a three-year deal with the Sharks earlier this week.
While Dufty's future remains clouded, Slater, a three-time Dally M Fullback of the Year, said he had no doubts the unwanted Dragon has a future in the game.
Slater jokingly revealed he saw Broncos great and board member Darren Lockyer taking notes of Dufty after the game before he urged Brisbane to consider making a play for the fullback.
"He's been told he's not going to be at the Dragons, which I think is quite strange because I thought you only replace someone if you have someone better," Slater told Nine.
"One thing I do know is Matt Dufty does have a future in this game and there will be a number of clubs looking around and seeing if Matt Dufty fits in … I noticed Darren Lockyer asking some communication questions and writing things down.
"I think he would fit nicely up there at Brisbane. They've got Adam Reynolds going up there, I think Albert Kelly is playing some nice football and you see some of their quality coming through — TC Robati, he's a player and Selwyn Cobbo on the wing.
"They've got some talent up there. If you put the likes of Dufty that are using the football the way he is, he's certainly going to be a great addition if he goes that way."
Dufty was asked after the match about the club's decision to part ways with him, which he admits left him feeling heartbroken.
"I had the two weeks off when I found out and I was obviously upset," Dufty told Nine after the match.
"(As a) St George junior, I grew up wanting to play for St George and it's all I've ever wanted to do.
"It rattled me and it was a bit heartbreaking, but I put it aside and all I wanted to do was put on a good performance for the fans and our team."
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