Matt Dufty bans mum from Warrington cup final because she has never seen him win
Dufty's dad Glenn is planning to jet in from Australia in the hope of watching his son lift major silverware for the first time, but mum Leonie is under strict instructions to stay at home.
'My mum hasn't seen me win yet,' laughed Dufty. 'She's come over and watched me seven times and we've lost all seven. So she's not allowed to come this week.'
The 29-year-old Dufty, who joined the Wolves midway through the 2022 season, has emerged as an increasingly important component in a side whose spine has been ravaged by injuries during this campaign.
He was coached by his dad from an early age and earned rave reviews in the NRL but is still missing the major trophy that he believes will make all his family's early sacrifices worthwhile.
'My dad's coming over for the game because he didn't get the opportunity to come and watch me play last year,' added Dufty.
'He's been a big part of my rugby league journey and he came out to watch me play in Las Vegas earlier this year, but he hasn't seen me lift anything professionally.
'So if I could get some silverware whilst he's watching I think it would be special for me and for our family.'
Despite scoring his side's opening try, Dufty endured a final to forget last season when he was sin-binned after just five minutes and Warrington never fully recovered as they slid to an 18-8 defeat to Wigan.
But he has continued to emerge as one of Super League's star playmakers this season, assuming extra responsibility during long injury lay-offs for the likes of captain George Williams and hooker Danny Walker.
'It's been a bit of a different year and while I probably haven't had the same impact on the team, I feel like I've grown into a different role,' added Dufty.
'For me it's been about learning and growing as a player and doing what's best for the team. I've learned a lot about myself as a player and a leader.'
Having started in the game at the age of four after he was rejected for a soccer camp, Dufty grew up as a keen scholar of the game on both sides of the world, and can think of few better scenarios than capping his career with a Challenge Cup winners' medal.
'It was always something we watched back home,' added Dufty. 'Then when you come over you realise how important the Challenge Cup is to English culture and how much prestige is behind it.
'Last year I got to experience it first-hand and it wasn't the way we wanted it, but we've got another chance two years in a row and the experience we gained from 2024 is going to be massive for us.'
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