SAM Burgess refused to be drawn on whether there was any deeper meaning behind Matt Dufty being left out of Warrington Wolves’ starting line-up for the second week in a row.
Veteran utility man Stefan Ratchford again lined up at fullback for the Wolves in their 30-22 comeback win at home to Catalans Dragons on Thursday, with the 37-year-old having taken the No 1 slot for the first time in three years in the previous week’s defeat to Wigan Warriors.
Dufty, who is set to feature for Warrington’s reserve team away at Wigan on Saturday, had been dropped the previous week for disciplinary reasons and was in the stands at the Halliwell Jones Stadium watching the Round 22 clash with the Dragons.
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The Wolves keep their Play-Off hopes alive 🐺#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/wT87qfIaSk
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) August 14, 2025
“He was just not playing – he wasn’t selected,” Burgess told Sky Sports.
“I thought the guys were good enough last week.
“He’s got a bit of work to get himself back in the side.”
Dufty has been a mainstay for the Wolves at fullback since joining midway through the 2022 season from Canterbury Bulldogs on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
The 29-year-old Australian signed a further deal until the end of 2026 in March last year, although his future at Warrington is now in doubt.
Dufty has six tries and 12 assists to his name in Super League so far in 2025, having also made 2,722 metres with an average gain of 8.4 metres per carry plus 14 clean breaks and 71 tackle busts.