St George Illawarra Dragons fullback Josh Dugan has finally put an end to the speculation about his future, signing a four-year deal with the Cronulla Sharks, believed to be worth about $3 million.
If the reported figure is correct, it puts Dugan in an elite class of fullbacks in the NRL on about $750,000 a year and will see him link up with the Sharks from the start of the 2018 season.
The New South Wales Blues and Australian representative will remain in the Shire until at least 2021, ending a five-year tenure at the Dragons, who got his career back on track after he was sacked from the Canberra Raiders in 2013 following a string of off-field incidents.
Dugan has been a changed man in the Red V though, not having one indiscretion against his name since playing his first game for the joint venture in the middle of the 2013 season.
Since then, Dugan has played 83 games in the Red V after turning out 70 times for the Canberra Raiders. The explosive backline player has also added nine appearances for the Blues and seven for Australia.
Coach Shane Flanagan said Dugan was a key signing for the club as they move into next year and that he was excited to sign on with the club.
“Josh will bring quality and experience to our backline next year and to sign the current Origin and Australian Test centre is a major coup for the club and for our future,” Flanagan said.
“We have a number of exciting young backs coming through our grades and Josh’s experience will be invaluable in helping with their continued development. Josh has just turned 27 and I am confident his best football is still ahead of him.”
“He is looking forward to being part of the development of players such as Val Holmes and as to where he might play for next year, quite simply he is the current Test right centre and who can also play fullback which is a bonus for our club,” Flanagan added.
Interestingly, it’s been reported that Dugan decided to waive the ten-day cooling off period on his contract, showing his intent to play for the reigning premiers from 2018.
The Dragons were keen on keeping Dugan, but it’s been said that a conflict of interests in the club led to Dugan signing with their local rivals. Club coach Paul McGregor has stated he wanted Dugan to play fullback, while the club’s management didn’t seem to share that view stating Dugan would be better suited to play centre.
Flanagan will have a tough selection battle on his hands when Dugan arrives in the Shire, with youngster Valentine Holmes holding a mortgage over the fullback spot for the Sharks.
It’s likely the Dragons fullback will settle to play centre, replacing Jack Bird who was signed by the Brisbane Broncos on a contract that will see him in the Queensland capital and playing under Wayne Bennett from the beginning of the 2018 season.
Paul Gallen also spoke about the value Dugan would bring to the club.
“We are wrapped to have him,” Gallen said. “I’ve been lucky enough to play rep footy with Josh over the years and he is a good guy and an outstanding team player.
“He is going to be an enormous boost to our team and Josh will be a great benefit to the club.” added Gallen.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
There's a lot that happens behind closed doors that we (and perhaps the auditors) don't get told about. Especially involving the Broncos Jimmy my boy
Jimmmy
Guest
What I can't work out is they lose Bird to Brisbane then buy Duggan. I know Bird has gone for a bit more than Duggan but surely he would have stayed if the Sharks were close. Bird is the real deal. Duggan is very good but is injury prone and Bird has improvement in him. I just cannot work out why Bird has to leave the Sharks. The same goes for The Saints losing Duggan. Surely they would match the Sharks deal if pushed. I just don't get it.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Love detective will come holmes in 2018
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Hes nowhere near as injury prone as someone like teddy tho.
Steve
Guest
I'd probably want my first graders, particularly star players, playing more than 77% of games. Of the 77% he actually does play, we can safely assume he's limping around, crouched over or holding a shoulder for at least 20 mins.
Farqueue
Guest
So I've read all these expert comments so far. Apparently he's injury plagued and never on the field. In his time at the dragons they have played 107 games of which he has played 83 plus 9 origins. So he's probably missed 15 -20 games in nearly 4.5 years. So about 4 games a year injured and plays 20. You guys are tough markers.
The Koomz
Guest
Big blow as a Dragons fan, I do love the guy as a player but I can see it as a way of keeping Dufty, and Field as we were kicking ourselves with letting go Jack Bird. Dragons will be stronger with Hunt coming, the type of footy thier playing will suit him perfectly. I think Tolman would be a good exchange for Packer, not sure what's going on with Masoe?
jamesb
Guest
I agree with that Ken. Still get annoyed that we lost Bird without playing not one single first grade game for the Dragons. Losing Packer and Dugan will hurt to some extent but of them can be replaced. Finding a capable prop isn't that hard, while with fullback, who knows, maybe Jai Field is the answer.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Hey EJ, From what Flanno has said, he will play centre.... Holmes is on more money than Dugan at $850k so no chance of moving him and the club has said as much. I think it's a sign that Dugan is disgruntled with the dragons and pretty much signed with the Sharks for all the reasons he said was an issue at the dragons. The biggest factor is the money (1.2m) the dragons are paying Ben Hunt who isn't a world class player... it's created huge discrepancy in salary between the players. That huge variance won't exist at the Sharks and his with other world class players.
Kenw
Guest
Hurt, but not that much. Packer is a strong hard-running front-rower with little finesse, a role vital to any team, but hardly a unique player. Of the starting Dragons forward pack, he's the one that they could most easily replace. Dugan is a special player but very individual, he's always been a bonus cog to the team rather than a vital one. I'd rather he stayed but his replacement could offer some new dimensions to the team. Besides some Dragons fans, those that carry placards against the current administration for letting players like Bird & the Morris boys go, might be cheering that we've lost 2 ring-ins and keeping some up-and-coming juniors to take their place.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Hey Ken, I'm just reading into Flanno's comments... he actually said he sees Holmes as the Sharks number 1 for the next 10 years. He was quoted saying that and when asked about where Dugan will play he said "he is the incumbent test centre and the fact he can play fullback is just a bonus"
Jay
Guest
Hunt and widdop got too much money. Losing dugan and packer will hurt the red v.
Kenw
Guest
Yeah, it was a throwaway comment I have no info that he's going anywhere. Still why are you so sure Holmes is staying at fullback? Flanagan was very non-committal about where Dugan was playing. Don't get me wrong, Holmes is younger and I think potentially has more upside for the long-term - I think they should leave him at fullback. But Dugan appears to have accepted much the same money as he was being offered at the Dragons, and his only apparent beef there was that there was some pressure to play centre - it just makes you wonder whether they've promised him something.
Kenw
Guest
' Are the Sharks paying “fullback” money for a centre?' Yet to be seen. Scott opined that he was likely to play centre but Flanagan was very non-committal in his comments - they may have promised him a crack at fullback. On the other hand, considering the salary cap rise that's just gone through, $750,000 is probably the price of a rep centre, not a rep fullback.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Hey Rene interesting point you raise with regards to Gagai. Especially when you hear the Sharks pulled out of the race for him due to his asking price, which was less than what they paid for Dugan. Which is effectively them saying it was too much for a centre. Even a top shelf one. Are the Sharks paying "fullback" money for a centre? Will this cause problems down the track when Dugan feels stifled at centre, putting pressure to move Holmes? Particularly when he said the below during negotiations with the Dragons: "I’m not being greedy, I’m going for what I feel I’m worth as a world-class player. The club has offered me a three-year deal, but as a centre. “I’ve played my whole career at fullback, I feel like I am one of the better fullbacks in the comp, and I feel I bring a lot to the table at fullback.” I still see Dugan as a very good signing. But it will be interesting to see how he is managed moving forward.
danwain
Guest
Sounds like he threw a tantrum be because we didn't give him what he wanted! Best of luck to him, must say it worries me that he went to the Sharks of all teams...
jamesb
Guest
I'm not really upset that Dugan is leaving. He is not a junior. It does look as though that Jai Field will get his opportunity.
Renegade
Roar Guru
The money he signed for is pretty much the same as what the dragons offered anyway....sounds like he just wants to be at a better club ?
Charles NSW
Guest
Josh Dugan was keen to remain as a fullback with the Dragons so why is he going to be a centre at Cronulla? Remember at one stage he said he wanted to be a centre so why the change? It is all about the money the Dragons were not going to pay to be a fullback I have always said he would be better suited as a centre and I still hold that view. However he has been trying to improve his game with his passing full credit to him.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Valentine is staying at fullback though so can't see how anything is going to change for him.... clubs have been circling him since 2015 so that's not new either lol