Matt Duffie
Encyclopedia
Matthew Duffie is a professional rugby league
player who currently plays for the Melbourne Storm
in the NRL. Duffie was a part of the Melbourne Storm Under 20's Premiership winning team in 2009, scoring 25 tries. On 1 May Duffie was selected for the New Zealand Kiwis for the 2011 ANZAC Test
. His place of birth is often incorrectly recorded as Christchurch
.
in Pakuranga
, Auckland
, New Zealand, where he was a part of the school's First XV, playing at fullback. He also excelled at athletics, making the national finals of the 200m, 400m and high jump. He graduated his final year in 2008.
In his younger years, he played for junior clubs the Kaiapoi
Bulldogs and the Pakuranga Jaguars. He is the first Kaiapoi
(now Northern) Bulldogs junior to be selected for the New Zealand Kiwis.
As a 16 year old Duffie also played senior Australian rules football
earning selection in the New Zealand national team
, after which he was invited to an Australian Football League
training camp.
scout Darren Bell discovered Duffie playing rugby union
and offered him a scholarship. He moved to Melbourne at the end of 2008 and developed rapidly in a professional program.
Duffie made his first-team debut against Harlequins RL at the Twickenham Stoop in the World City Challenge in 2010.
He scored two tries in his NRL debut in round seven of the 2010 season.
Duffie has also played a major part in the comeback of the Storm
in 2011, scoring 7 tries so far this year, the highest amount in the team.
He also recenty signed a new 3 year deal with the club.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player who currently plays for the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
in the NRL. Duffie was a part of the Melbourne Storm Under 20's Premiership winning team in 2009, scoring 25 tries. On 1 May Duffie was selected for the New Zealand Kiwis for the 2011 ANZAC Test
2011 ANZAC Test
The 2011 ANZAC Test was a rugby league test match played between Australia and New Zealand on 6 May 2011 at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast. Australia won their tenth straight Anzac test with a score of 20–10.-Pre-game:...
. His place of birth is often incorrectly recorded as Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
.
Early life
Duffie attended Saint Kentigern CollegeSaint Kentigern College
Saint Kentigern College is a private, co-educational Presbyterian secondary school in the Pakuranga suburb of Manukau City in the Auckland region of New Zealand, beside the estuary of the Tamaki Estuary...
in Pakuranga
Pakuranga
Pakuranga is an eastern suburb of Auckland, in northern New Zealand. Pakuranga covers a series of low ridges and previously swampy flats, now drained, that lie between the Pakuranga Creek and Tamaki River, two estuarial arms of the Hauraki Gulf...
, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand, where he was a part of the school's First XV, playing at fullback. He also excelled at athletics, making the national finals of the 200m, 400m and high jump. He graduated his final year in 2008.
In his younger years, he played for junior clubs the Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi is a town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, located close to the mouth of the Waimakariri River, and approximately 17 kilometres north of Christchurch....
Bulldogs and the Pakuranga Jaguars. He is the first Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi is a town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, located close to the mouth of the Waimakariri River, and approximately 17 kilometres north of Christchurch....
(now Northern) Bulldogs junior to be selected for the New Zealand Kiwis.
As a 16 year old Duffie also played senior Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
earning selection in the New Zealand national team
New Zealand national Australian rules football team
The New Zealand national Australian rules football team nicknamed the Falcons, is the national team for the sport of Australian rules football in New Zealand. The team is selected from the best New Zealand born and developed players, primarily from the clubs of the New Zealand AFL. New Zealand-born...
, after which he was invited to an Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
training camp.
Rugby league career
Melbourne StormMelbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
scout Darren Bell discovered Duffie playing rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and offered him a scholarship. He moved to Melbourne at the end of 2008 and developed rapidly in a professional program.
Duffie made his first-team debut against Harlequins RL at the Twickenham Stoop in the World City Challenge in 2010.
He scored two tries in his NRL debut in round seven of the 2010 season.
Duffie has also played a major part in the comeback of the Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
in 2011, scoring 7 tries so far this year, the highest amount in the team.
He also recenty signed a new 3 year deal with the club.