WIDNES VIKINGS have emerged as a surprise possible destination for Warrington Wolves outcast Matt Dufty.
The 29-year-old has been told he is free to explore opportunities and had his squad number downgraded to number 24, despite being a regular starter since arriving from Canterbury Bulldogs in 2022, scoring 47 tries in 88 appearances.
The Australian is believed to have met with Vikings coach Allan Coleman, who is pushing hard to convince club officials to bring him in.
Talk of a move to Super League new boys York Knights to re-unite with former Wolves team-mate Paul Vaughan has failed to materialise, and Dufty is believed to have so far resisted offers of a pay-off.
But with Widnes expecting a player to depart before the start of the new season to free up some budget, they are trying to put together a package to tempt Dufty to take the pay-off from Warrington and then sign with them in time for their Championship season opener against London Broncos.
Widnes’ number one shirt has surprisingly been handed to Matty Fleming, despite Jack Owens, Jake Maizen and Joe Edge playing more games at fullback than him in 2025.
With skipper Owens moving to three, after transitioning to the centres last season, it was thought Maizen was going to take over as number one, though there are now doubts over his future at the club.
Widnes squad numbers: 1 Matty Fleming, 2 Mike Butt, 3 Jack Owens, 4 Joe Edge, 5 Ryan Ince, 6 Joe Lyons, 7 Tom Gilmore, 8 Dan Murray, 9 Jordan Johnstone, 10 Liam Bent, 11 Sam Wilde, 12 Max Roberts, 13 Nick Gregson, 14 Matty Fozard, 15 Lewis Hall, 16 Danny Langtree, 17 Jake Maizen, 18 Morgan McWhirter, 19 Adam Lawton, 20 Jack Bibby, 21 Jay Chapelhow, 22 Jordan Abdull, 23 Nathan Connell, 24 Frank Sargent, 25 Kieran Taylor, 26 Toby Hughes.