The NRL has another problem child on its hands, with Canberra star Josh Dugan claiming he needed time out to resolve personal issues after being stood down by the Raiders for breaching a number of team policies.
Just weeks after Canterbury suspended poster boy Ben Barba as he dealt with a host of personal issues, Dugan’s career spiralled out of control in a series of incidents following Sunday’s first round loss to Penrith on Sunday.
So far has the relationship between the club and player deteriorated that the Raiders were unable to find their marquee man on Tuesday – with news he was being stood down relayed via a message left on his phone.
“We’ve got a standard here. I’ve said it before, no one player, staff or coach is bigger than this club,” coach David Furner said.
Dugan and Blake Ferguson posted pictures of themselves drinking alcohol on Instagram on Monday night, a breach of team policy for Dugan after he picked up a rib cartilage injury against the Panthers.
It came after the pair had failed to front for Monday morning’s rehab session, while police were also called to attend to a noise complaint at the residence where Dugan and Ferguson were drinking later that night.
Dugan was also delivering a one-finger salute in the photo – believed to be aimed at Raiders officials.
Ferguson turned up to Raiders HQ on Tuesday where he was told about his indefinite ban, but Dugan remains AWOL.
The former NSW Origin representative – who was also banned last year for drinking while injured – gave some insight into his inner demons with a series of tweets on Tuesday morning.
“This goes beyond the drinking while injured. Yes I’ve broken team rules but for me it goes deeper and I plan on sorting it out,” read a tweet on Dugan’s account.
Another followed:
“I apologize to my team mates and the fans but this is personal and needs to be sorted out as soon as possible for me to move forward.”
Furner said the club would move forward without the pair as it prepares for Sunday’s trip to the Gold Coast to play the Titans.
“At this stage we haven’t put a time on it,” Furner said of the length of the suspensions.
“We’ve got a process to go through, I’m not happy, that’s obvious.
“We need to be thinking about football and we’re not at the moment.”
Furner declined to comment on the possibility either player, with both having a history of off-field incidents, could be sacked.
“(Disappointment is) a bit of an understatement,” Furner said.
“I am disappointed, this is a proud club and we need to be putting wins on the board rather than be in the limelight for the wrong reasons.”
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