WHEN his move to Warrington Wolves was confirmed, some of Matt Dufty’s past comments about joining a Super League club resurfaced.

Last year, the full-back was quoted as saying he thought moving to the UK would be “a step backwards” and “disrespectful to himself.”

Twelve months down the line, a planned move to The Halliwell Jones Stadium has been brought forward after NRL side Canterbury Bulldogs, who had dropped the 26-year-old from their first-grade side, agreed to release him early from his deal.

As a result, it has led to some supporters questioning whether Dufty has come to Warrington with the right intentions but the man himself has moved to clarify his comments.

He insists he meant no disrespect to a competition he feels will get the best out of him.

“I said last year that I wasn't ready to come to the Super League, but I've always wanted to come,” he said.

“At the time, I was on 82 NRL games and I was 25.

“A goal for me was really to get to that 100-game mark in the NRL before I looked at anything and that's what I meant in the media.

“I just said I'm not ready and I’ve got things to achieve in the NRL first.

“I only got to 95 anyway, so I ended up falling a bit short this year when we got a new coach in and he changed the team up.

“At that time in my life, I wasn't ready to move. I was a lot younger mentally and it was a big move.

“I’d only just moved out of home a year before that and bought a house.

“That was the main thing – I wasn't ready to move out of the NRL and that's what I meant. I didn’t mean anything disrespectful.”

Dufty appears set to make his Warrington debut when Daryl Powell takes his struggling side to high-flying Huddersfield Giants on Saturday.

Having agreed to join the club earlier in the year, he has watched from afar to get a look at his future teammates before training with them for the first time this week.

If work can be done to put right their alarming defensive record, Dufty believes The Wire’s attacking potential offers plenty to be excited about.

“I’ve been training with the boys and just the way we attack is very exciting,” he said.

“We’ve been scoring a lot of points but we’ve just got to stop them.

“I think over here, there's a lot more opportunity to play a freer style of footy.

“There’s not so much emphasis on ruck control and wrestle that there is in the NRL, where everyone just loves slowing the ruck down and slowing the wrestle.

“I think it suits me to a tee – I want to play that free, fast style of footy that suits my strengths and I think I can achieve that here.

“And I still reckon my best footy is in front of me and I can have two good years at Warrington.”

“I signed earlier in the year so I've been I've been watching all their games and me and Powelly have been talking a lot.

“I know Warrington is a one-team town. I know how much they love their footy here and obviously want us to win a few more games.

“Hopefully we can do that and repay the fans in the town. It's a big move for me and I'm really excited to rip in.”