St George Illawarra skipper Ben Creagh wants the NRL to quickly resolve its impasse with Josh Dugan which is stopping the troubled former Canberra fullback from linking with the Dragons.
Dugan, who was sacked by the Raiders in March for repeated discipline breaches, has reportedly agreed to terms with the Dragons on a five-month contract which would allow him to play out the season in the Red V.
But before that can happen the deal needs to be ticked off by the NRL.
Dugan underwent a psychological analysis a month ago, where NRL officials found no major issues but he has been receiving counselling since.
Creagh said he hoped the remaining issues could be ironed out sooner rather than later, admitting Dugan’s signing could be a season-defining moment for the Dragons.
“Hopefully everything by the club and the NRL now get sorted out quickly and he can come to the Dragons,” Creagh told AAP on Tuesday.
Once cleared, Dugan would slot straight into the Dragons at fullback – allowing New Zealand international Jason Nightingale to return to his preferred spot on the right wing.
Nightingale has been forced to the back following the season-ending knee injury to off-season recruit Gerard Beale, making Dugan’s arrival even more timely.
Creagh said it had the potential to have a massive impact on how the Dragons, currently placed 12th on the ladder, can compete for the rest of the year.
“He’d be a massive bonus for us at this stage of the season. He’s a quality player,” Creagh said.
“Jason is doing a good job there but he’s one of the best wingers in the world and his best position is on the wing.
“So if we could get a player of Josh Dugan’s quality, I think it would be great for the rest of the season for us.”
The eye
Guest
I don't know what kind of person he is,but unless he's a total tool and a lot of players are speaking up for him so assuming hes not,he must have been very very desperate...with issues far deeper than just the coach...Josh Dugan is a very good player,far better than he showed us this season,hate to see that talent wasted,he tormented the coach,it's not as if he hit a policeman and got off scot free like the manly guy.
Ken
Guest
'This was his intentional way of getting out of his ‘nightmare’ circumstance' See I would say this is the worst thing he's done. What sort of person purposely trashes their reputation to get themselves fired (from a job that pays a little more than award wages)? Any footballer that thinks that being paid half a million dollars a year to play football is a 'nightmarish' scenario simply because they don't see eye-to-eye with the coach has a major problem with their sense of entitlement. I fully understand your point that we've had blokes probably getting away with bigger 'incidents', the truth is though that 'rap' sheet that Canberra wrote up has not been published in the media as far as I know so we really don't know what the biggest incident was anyway
The eye
Guest
Seems like the worst thing he's done,which we know about,is break the booze curfew.This was his intentional way of getting out of his 'nightmare' circumstance.Not condoning any of it all,but when you take all the emotion and attitude out of the equation and ask for a charge sheet,what do you see worthy of a year out of the game that hasn't had a slap on the wrist precedent.Goodness knows what caused the Broncos to punt Gagai and Kelly A. has wronged how many clubs for how many suspensions ?And Barba..now there's story that we're being shielded from.I'm with Creagh.