St George Illawarra’s Matthew Dufty says memories of last season’s gutting finals absence will keep the high-flying side honest this season.
The 22-year-old scored his first NRL hat-trick in a 54-8 destruction of Gold Coast, the victory putting them top of the table and undefeated after three rounds.
But he said last season’s fade out, in which they went from top of the ladder after seven rounds to finish an agonising ninth, would be front of mind all season.
“We dropped off last year and it cost us a finals spot; this year Mary’s (coach Paul McGregor) focus is on playing the same way every week and we’re knuckling down,” he told AAP.
“We’ll celebrate it, will have a good feel all week, but know we’ve got a job to do.”
Dufty was the beneficiary of more good work from new halves pairing Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop, the latter racking up five try assists in Sunday’s Toowoomba romp.
He said the arrival of Hunt had been seamless, necessary and a big help to his own game.
“When you run out and look forward and you’ve got a forward pack of the standard of ours, got a high quality team, you can’t ask for any more,” Dufty told AAP.
“Benny’s just a world class player isn’t he; his game management, talk, direction, leadership is all world class and what we’ve really lacked these last couple of years.
“You never noticed the pressure on him at all (when he arrived); Benny doesn’t let that stuff phase him, he’s proving a point at the moment, he signed a big deal and I think it’s worth it.”
The Dragons, who next face Newcastle, strengthened their hold on top spot with the Titans flogging and now boast a for-and-against differential of 72.
“To put 50 (points) on any NRL team is something special and the games have been really close this season so hopefully that helps us, because it hurt us last year,” Dufty said.