When Australian rugby league coach Mal Meninga named his 24-man squad for the World Cup, there again was Josh Dugan.
But there was no James Tedesco, recently voted the Rugby League Players Association Player of the Year, often rated as more prestigious than the Dally M.
The RLPA award is voted by the NRL players throughout the season, and the argument is valid that to be named the best by his peers carries more weight.
Dugan was nowhere in sight, nor was he in the Dally M final scoreboard.
Is mighty Mal making mistakes for the first time?
He was certainly mistake free in coaching Queensland to a record eight successive Origin series successes, before finishing with nine series from ten when he ended his interstate coaching career to take over the Australian job in December 2014.
He made it crystal clear from the outset he wanted the green jersey with the big gold V to again be the pinnacle of the game – as it was when he played.
In the interim, the Origin series has become the Holy Grail of the 13-man code, with Tests few and far between.
Mal has so far proven his point, with seven Test wins from as many starts, although the World Cup is the first real litmus test.
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While his squad for the tournament is strong, there are some strange decisions, with the omission of Tedesco topping the list.
There are six potential fullbacks, with Billy Slater the standout, followed by Darius Boyd, Valentine Holmes, Dane Gagai, Tom Trbojevic and Dugan – with Tedesco the one left out.
Boyd, Holmes, and Gagai have been named as wingers, Dugan as a centre, but Tedesco also covers all three and should have been selected.
Meninga has named three outstanding contenders for the number six jersey to replace the injured Johnathan Thurston – Michael Morgan, James Maloney, and Cameron Munster.
Three covering one spot is overkill, and one of them could so easily have been left out for Tedesco.
There are three halfbacks as well, with standout Cooper Cronk covered by Morgan, and second hooker Ben Hunt, who has only been upfront for the first time in the latter part of the season for the Broncos.
Rarely has there been so much quality versatility among the backs, with Dugan the only passenger.
No point in him buying a Lotto ticket, he’s used up all his good luck once he was selected. There’s a pretty fair chance he won’t get a game unless there are injuries.
As for James Tedesco, he’ll wear Italy’s number one jersey in the World Cup in a travesty of justice.
To pinch recently retired Corey Parker’s quote – “Nothing surprises me anymore.”
Gus O
Guest
Just remembering the 2013 world cup, Hayne was brilliant at centre for Australia, making line breaks at will. He could have easily been chosen for man-of-match in two games. I looked up the stats - equal top try scorer (9), equal highest number of try assists (6). Centre is his pathway back to rep footy for NSW and Australia – if he has the motivation. He wont be playing in the halves for NSW, and difficult to see him playing fullback ahead of the Minichello tutored Tedesco or Tommy Turbo without a major motivation transfusion.
Gus O
Guest
+1 Inglis and Chambers would be first pick centres if everyone was fit and healthy. Would love to see an in-form Leilua in the rep teams. I expect the key games will be Cronk and Morgan will be the first choice halves, and would be unsurprised to see Munster preferred to Dugan at centre in the big games.
Gus O
Guest
Agree with the versatility, so many of the top backs now play fullback you could fill the centres and wing with club fullbacks easily. I think we are missing another gun centre, and who would be the first pick if fit... ahead of Dugan... another fullback by the name of Inglis. Leilua of 2016 would also be ahead of Dugan. Centre used to be a glamour position, now it is fast ball playing fullbacks who are great at pushing up and also broken field running.
Riggs
Guest
"Proven performer" lol. Pity he can't perform at club or state level, has to wait to play a terrible NZ side who let an aging Sam Thaiday break the defensive line.
Riggs
Guest
Scott Pryde what were you watching? Matt Dufty played one game in ROUND 20 and had more try assists than Dugan had all year. Dugan is not a man of blinding pace and his passing game is below average. When was the last time this guy ran more than 30m to score. Overrated player. There are more than a handful of fullbacks and centres ahead of him, why Mal keeps picks him and Woods is a mystery.... maybe he picks these passengers so NSW think they are the best option come Origin time
Gus O
Guest
The squad is overloaded with backups in the halves and fullback. Does not need both Munster and Morgan in the squad... that's costing us strike elsewhere. The squad is particularly light on specialist centres. Only Chambers and Dugan, and centre is not Dugan's best nor preferred position. Regardless, is Dugan really one of the top two centres in the game? Really?? I expect we will see the Dally M halfback of the year and previous playing centre by the knockout stages, where he has previously played as backup for Qld.
Remo Shankar
Roar Pro
Yep...can't remember seeing a more limited back line player for a long time. Can't pass/won't pass, predictable , has the vision of Stevie Wonder, and injury prone - and these are just his strong points.
Larry1950
Guest
Dearth of depth in the centres for this Aussie squad but I'd suggest Mal is looking at Morgan for the starting 5/8 and Munster as a centre, most likely taking Dugan's spot. Makes sense and rewards a guy who's stepped up each time he's been given a new challenge. Front row looks a bit inexperienced but the only way to get experience is to be given games. Vaughan to excel and Freddie Mercury will be a lot better for Penrith after being in this squad under Mal.
Chris Hatt
Guest
You are just anti-Dugan. Dugan has never let his country down and has always played at a high level for both state and country. He was also best on ground in the last test until injury cut him short. Dugan will certainly get game time this WC.
sham
Guest
It's the tatts. The roos clearly need a bloke who has chosen to deface a large share of his body with tasteless, ugly images.
Mr Majestyk
Guest
Just my 2c, but IMO Dugan is and only ever will be a fullback. At the dragons this was where he shone and his form at centre was pedestrian at best. I wouldn't even rate in the top 10 as a centre let alone be picked for Australia. His form since telling us dragons fans he was leaving to join cronulla has been very ordinary. Combine that with his fragility and you can see why dragons didn't try that hard. However I must say a lot of this is dragon's own fault. He came to the club at the worst possible time with one hopeless coach in Price sucking the talent out of him. When Dugan first joined dragons he was electric for the few months of that season - they weren't nick named the St George Illawarra-Dugans for no reason. By the second season he had already lost his brilliant spark and turned more predictable. Didn't really improve much under Mary although occasionally their was some brilliance. I suspect if Dugan had moved to Melbourne he would have been a superstar barring serious injury. While Dugan has lifted fro rep footy IMO it's not enough for the Australian side.
the Phantom Bantam
Guest
Agree with David Lord in his assessment of Dugan. Dugan is a "fragile".footballer..think how many times Dugan stays down or staggers off with injury. I would much rather have a tough,durable player in a team in stead of a bloke who falls over at the drop of a hat. Watch Dugan in the upcoming World Cup Games......its odds on that he will crumble....why to you think Saints let him go?
Rod
Guest
I don't get the Dugan selection. Not because I think he is a bad player. We have seen lesser players play for the kangaroos. But when I think of the great backs we have plus some of the great backline we had in the past. I just can't cop his selection in the centres. Can anyone explain to me what he brings to the table. My quick check list Defence 6/10 yeah he can tackle but he is not exceptional Speed 6/10 Size 7/10 Strength 7/10 Passing 4/10 Tackle breaking 7/10 probably his best asset , but not what he once was earlier in his career . I don't know not bad, but not great.maybe im missing something
The Stranglers
Guest
Dugan is about 26th in the centre rankings in the NRL. He's hopeless.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Its a good point Greg. There appear to be fewer quality centres to choose from these days for some reason. Instead selectors seem to want blokes who can cover a few positions including FB, centre and wing. If you went through all the NRL teams there aren't many centres that really stand out. In the last minor round of the year there were James Roberts, Michael Jennings, Dylan Walker, Will Chambers, Jarrod Croker, BJ Leilua, Dane Gagai, Josh Dugan, and Josh Morris who arguably the selectors could choose from. On form you could argue that Dylan Walker might have earned a spot ahead of Dugan. I would have been happy with Chambers and Walker.
terrence
Guest
Onya Nohn Jorris, brilliant. you mastered IQ yourself yet? .... tumbleweeds.....
terrence
Guest
Adam, 100% correct. A consistent performer at national level. Also a big body in an important defensive decision making position. Personally, no great fan of the bloke generally or at club level, but like Greg Bird and Sam Backo, put that next level jersey on them and you more often than not see a player of the match/series. It also highlights a lack of larger centres with both attacking and defensive skills.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
I must admit to feeling sorry for Dugan in the last round this year when he blazed his way thru a pretty good Bulldogs defence to score a season defining try for the Saints and cement a spot in the top 8 for his team. Everything was fine except the miracle tackle by Will Hopoate which was a massive turning point for a few clubs and stopped the try. Things have changed so much in League where the centres were among the elite players in the game thru most of its history but now there is less room to move out wide and it is an awkward position to play in.
John Norris
Guest
The Rugby League World Cup,showcase for selected individuals who's only idea of an IQ is a Foxtel set top box!
Alan
Guest
Yep, 24 on 13 should just about do it.