Matthew Dufty
A lightning-fast fullback with dazzling footwork, Dufty is an attacking sparkplug known for his electrifying line breaks and try-scoring ability.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Australian rugby league footballer·Birthday: January 10·Millennials
Biography
Matthew Dufty's footballing identity is built on pure, unadulterated speed. A product of the St. George Illawarra Dragons system, the Gerringong native announced himself in the NRL with a breathtaking try on debut in 2017, instantly showcasing the acceleration that would become his trademark. For several seasons at the Dragons, Dufty was a highlight-reel fixture, his blistering pace from the back creating tries out of nothing. After a stint with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, he found a home with the South Sydney Rabbitohs organization. While often featuring for their NSW Cup side, his experience and point-scoring prowess provide vital depth. Dufty's career narrative is one of a specialist game-breaker, a player whose mere presence on the field forces opposing defenses to second-guess their line speed.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Matthew was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matthew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Matthew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored a try with his first touch in the NRL on his debut for the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2017.
- Finished the 2020 NRL season as the Dragons' top try-scorer with 10 tries.
- Won the NSW Cup premiership with the South Sydney Rabbitohs reserve grade side in 2023.
Did You Know?
He played junior rugby league for the Gerringong Lions.
Dufty is an avid surfer.
He was awarded the Dragons' NYC Player of the Year in 2016 before his NRL promotion.
“If you see a gap, you don't think—you just go.”
