Source :- THE AGE NEWS
South Sydney have applied to the NRL for permission to promote Matt Dufty to their first-grade squad in time to face his former club, St George Illawarra, this weekend after fullback Jye Gray suffered an AC joint injury that could sideline him for up to a month.
Dufty, 30, returned to Australia at the end of last season after a spell in Super League to be closer to family with his partner expecting their baby.
The livewire speedster signed a deal with Souths to play NSW Cup, but Gray’s injury has prompted the club to seek the NRL’s blessing to play him as early as this weekend against the spluttering Dragons.
If Dufty is given the green light, there will be no shortage of motivation for him to shine against the Red V, where he started his NRL career.
Under NRL rules, reserve-grade players cannot be promoted to first grade until after round 11, unless there is a shortage of options in particular positions.
Latrell Mitchell is an established fullback and moved to the back when Gray came from the field in the first half during the loss to Canberra in Perth. However, Mitchell spent little time training at fullback over the summer and has found a home at left centre this season.
If Mitchell moved to No.1, Souths’ options in the outside backs would then be limited, especially with Isaiah Tass (knee) and Tyrone Munro (stood down) unavailable.
Dufty scored three tries against Canterbury in the Good Friday curtain-raiser and featured in Sunday night’s NSW Cup win over Parramatta. Souths baulked at pulling him out of the Eels clash as they awaited the exemption from the NRL. He also impressed coaches during the pre-season trials, including running for over 200m in the Charity Shield match against the Dragons.
In other team news, Jake Trbojevic (eye) trained away from Manly’s main group on Monday, but already declared he will be fit for Thursday’s road trip to Townsville.
And Brisbane’s Pat Carrigan accepted a two-match ban, which sees him miss Saturday’s clash with the Wests Tigers in Campbelltown.
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