MATT Dufty is on his way to the UK to join up with Warrington Wolves immediately.

The Wire have confirmed the signing of the full-back on a two-and-a-half year deal after he was granted an early release from his deal with NRL side Canterbury Bulldogs

> More on the signing of Matt Dufty can be found here

Here, we look at what Dufty may bring to The Wire, and what it may mean for those already here…

Dufty to add an extra spark?

There is no doubt injecting a man with Dufty’s pace into the side would be a significant boost to Warrington’s attack.

A look at various highlight reels would reveal blistering speed and sleight of foot to leave defenders trailing in their wake.

However, there will also be a few highlights of some defensive mishaps – one from the NRL Magic Round earlier this year did the rounds - and he found himself dropped from the Bulldogs' first team last month.

Nevertheless, everyone associated with The Wire would hope Dufty would have a similar impact to the one Jai Field – a player with a similar style of play – is having down the road at Wigan Warriors currently.

That would of course depend on how he is incorporated into Daryl Powell’s structures and how Dufty himself takes to life in England.

Given his past comments about a move to Super League, it is clear Dufty sees himself as an NRL player.

It is not uncommon for players to head to these shores with the aim of securing a fresh deal back home and if that means Warrington sees his very best, that may not be a bad thing in the short term.

At what cost?

One of the brightest sparks of a disappointing Wire season so far has been the displays of academy graduate Josh Thewlis.

The 20-year-old has delivered some impressive performances this year that illustrate he is more than ready to be the club’s long-term number one.

Warrington Guardian:

Josh Thewlis. Picture by SWPix.com

While Dufty’s signing would not necessarily change that, it is likely to mean his ascension to first-choice full-back is delayed by at least a season.

There will be those that question the kind of message this could send, especially at a time when the club has been keen to highlight the quality of young talent coming through its ranks.

Many will also see full-back as an area that did not necessarily need to be strengthened.

Even with the off-contract Gareth Widdop injured currently, Thewlis, Stefan Ratchford, Matty Ashton and Peter Mata’utia remain as potential options for both this year and next. It is not exactly an area Wire lack depth in.

In short then, this is a signing that has potential to be an exciting one for Warrington Wolves but is not without its questions.