Canberra chairman John McIntyre has questioned whether Josh Dugan is psychologically ready to return to the NRL as the troubled fullback prepares to play his first game for St George Illawarra on Saturday.
Dugan will play his first game since round one against Parramatta in Wollongong, after being sacked by the Raiders in March following a series of discipline breaches.
The former Canberra custodian initially snubbed the advances of the joint venture in favour of Brisbane before yet another social media incident soured the deal with the Broncos.
After finally signing with the Dragons last week, 23-year-old Dugan said he was looking forward to repaying the club’s faith in him with strong performances on the park.
However McIntyre, one of the game’s most respected administrators, said he wasn’t sure Dugan was mentally ready to set foot upon the football field again.
“The one question that I would like answered is whether Josh Dugan is in the right frame of mind to be playing football again,” McIntyre told AAP on Friday.
“It is only five weeks since that incident with the Broncos and you have to wonder if he is coming back too soon. And what is the risk of bringing him back too soon? If he is ready whoever has been working with him must be some miracle worker.”
McIntyre, who watched on with a heavy heart as Todd Carney resurrected his career with Sydney Roosters, said he bore no ill will towards Dugan.
“I can say that the Canberra Raiders football club wishes Josh Dugan all the best for the future,” he said.
“The rugby league world needs a player like Josh Dugan.”
McIntyre said he could not rule out a return to the Raiders for Dugan one day.
“The decision to sack Josh Dugan was in the best interests of the football club and we stand by that decision. But, and I have been quoted on this before … the rugby league world is a very, very small world and you never know.”
Parramatta captain Tim Mannah said his side was wary of what Dugan can add to a Dragons outfit that has struggled in attack for much of the season so far.
“I don’t think the time away from the game will have done him any harm,” Mannah said on Friday.
“I think he is going to come back and people won’t be able to tell that he has been away.
“I’m not too happy to see him back. I’m happy he is back in the game but it would have been nice if he came back a week later. Everyone knows how good Duges is and what he adds to a team.
“So for us, he is really going to be an obstacle and we will really have to do a job on him.”
Dugan returns in Jarryd Hayne’s 150th game for the Eels, with the Parramatta fullback in top form.
It will be a good gauge for Dugan – who if not for his sacking would have been a rival with Hayne for the NSW No.1 jersey – to see where he is really at.
Kazzie
Guest
No one is questioning the kid's ability. What they are questioning is whether he is finally in the right headspace to make the most of his talent. I feel for any team management who try to instil discipline in these kids who seem to think that because they are extremely talented they can do what they like and that there should be no consequences for their actions. They repeatedly breach their clubs rules with disdain. I think it was good that he got a touch of what life without football was like and I hope he has learnt from it. As far as I am concerned these young men are adults and need to take responsibility for their attitudes, behaviours and beliefs. The clubs are not their parents, they should not be expected to hold their hands. They can help guide them but at the end of the day, if these kids do not grow up and exhibit mature behaviour, do we expect the clubs to hold their hands for them when they finally retire from the game? It is time to stop blaming the clubs and start laying the blame where it belongs - with these young men. If they want to be a part of society, then like the rest of us they need to step up and take responsibility for themselves and their behaviour.
Gareth
Roar Pro
As long as he's right for Round 20.
Bazzio
Roar Guru
Dugan in the pink!! . http://www.dragons.com.au/news-display/Match-Highlights-Round-10/75003
Bazzio
Roar Guru
All I can say in reply eagleJack is an old saying that has been proven true again and again throughout the ages and in every generation ~ "you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone" I agree with you 100% regarding a no-play for the rest of a season for repeated infringements, though. Dugan should have asked his manager to find a a way out, but then again, how many of us know we need help at the time we're making the dumb mistakes? I sure can't count myself in there, and not many people can . . . truthfully, that is.
eagleJack
Guest
Really Bazzio? His head was being messed by the fact he is a drop-kick. A bloke who only ever realises the opportunity his talents have given him after they have been taken away. Only once sacked, and seeing that working for a living is a lot more difficult (and financially detrimental) than playing sport, do these kids realise they must knuckle down and make a real go of it. As I said earlier I wish him all the best at the Dragons. But rules have to be made that a player can't join another club in the same season that they are sacked for repeated infringements. There is absolutely no benefit to a club disciplining a problem child under the current system. Only for them to show up elsewhere and display their talents after your club has given them the wake up call they needed.
Jukes
Guest
"If a player continually wreaks havoc at his club and they are forced to terminate his contract, then that player should not be reregistered at any NRL club until the date that the terminated contract was originally signed to." Thats a ridiculous statement. The contract has been terminated. The raiders dont want him, the saints do. Buyer beware.
Dan
Guest
Question Answered! 2 tries, could have easily been 4. He was on fire, the Dragons are back in the race now with a rejuvenated attack. Dugs seemed to fire up Vidot, and Nightingale seemed happy to share the attacking load he has been shouldering for the past few weeks. GO THE DRAGONS!!!
Bazzio
Roar Guru
Well steve ~ he's baaaaaack ;) .. .. .. .. without the gremlins, it seems
Bazzio
Roar Guru
+1
Bazzio
Roar Guru
Canberra sour grapes putting the slipper in at first opportunity. The kid said after tonight's game "Im just grateful to have had the time off to get my head together". To my mind, that says his head was being messed with by Raiders Club, not loose friends.
Silvertail
Guest
So what player have the raiders signed in the last 10 years that went on to do or be anything ??? , mate players that leave canberra become better , simple fact
Meesta Cool
Guest
Dave I fully agree with you, If a player continually wreaks havoc at his club and they are forced to terminate his contract, then that player should not be reregistered at any NRL club until the date that the terminated contract was originally signed to. Raiders do the right thing, The Vultures swoop. let's hope that Karma exists. The one good point out of this, Raiders now appear to have a more stable TEAM spirit after losing this guy. I would prefer Reece Robinson in my team than Duggan. and I am DEFINITELY not a raiders fan, in fact they lie somewhere on the bottom of teams that I even like to watch.!.
Renegade
Guest
Actually you've just proved his point....Carney sat out a year...
Dave
Guest
No more than those of the Eagles or any other club. The point is when a club dies the right thing they should not be 'penalised'. I say this as a non-Raiders fan. Dugan's contract being signed is another slap in the face to the Raiders.
Silvertail
Guest
Na raiders management are tossas , end of discussion ,
Ken
Guest
Dugan's problem seems to be solely attitude. I know the 'full list' of his indiscretions hasn't been made public but I suspect that it's a quantity rather than a quality issue, i.e. he's not getting into fights, or repeatedly drink driving, getting slaughtered every night etc. If these things had been happening it would have got out, it always does and I'm sure the media had their best men on trying to uncover any dirt considering the scenario. So, the real question is, have the events of the last few months given him enough of a kick to realise that nobody owes him anything. If he'd walked straight in to the Dragons or Broncos on big money in the couple of weeks after engineering his own dismissal then I reckon the answer would be surely not. Considering that it dragged on though, and he missed out on the Broncos and then accepted far less money at the Dragons, maybe it has been enough. As a Dragons fan I really didn't want him 2 months ago, but I feel better about it now - if he knuckles down he's got the talent to tear it up.
Dave
Guest
Settle petal or at least better inform yourself of the scenario before you speak. First Carney was stood down for over a year before he signed with the Roosters. Of course his behaviour since then has Ben stellar [sic]. Outside of violating club protocol all he did was get banned from Goulburn, try to piss on a fan and get busted numerous times for high ange drink driving. Soo as you were saying a real peach of a kid and not a drop kick at all. To your second point the Raiders do have a reason to be unhappy about all of this. They give multiple warnings to a player to clean up his act, something the NRL says they are all in favour of and then when forced to sack him for repeated offences the NRL says 'Good Job, but we will let him play for your opponents agsinst you regardless'. A bit poor wouldn't you say?
zug
Guest
Yeah people shouldn't be too judgmental everyone makes mistakes in life
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Only Dugan knows if Dugan is ready to play or not. I shake my head at all these so called experts who appear to know someone else's thoughts and mental state from afar.
oikee
Guest
If he loses the plot or goes into meltdown, then put him into a padded room and fix him up. He is just a young kid like Carney was and needs to be nurtured, not nuited. We all know he is a loose cannon, no surprises their, but gee whiz, he is our loose cannon and we need to give him 10-20 chances. Whatever it takes to get him back on track and playing good footy. One we help is one less on the street. These are hard=core mother f- - - -ers that need the games upmost help, one we lose should be seen as a failure. We as a code have a responsiblity to keep these guys off the streets. If not us, as a code, who else is going to take up the challenge. ??? As Jack Gibson would have said, you done good. It might take another couple of years before Dugs comes good, but let us face facts, the guy is a talent, and most talents have a little bit of attitude or miss-adventure about them. Dont try to kil that, let us guide it, he is only young. Nobody has been killed. hehe.