The Cronulla Sharks have officially dumped Josh Dugan over a series of COVID-19 protocol breaches this season.
The Sharks confirmed on Friday that Dugan, 31, will be departing the club effective immediately.
“The decision was made after a review and internal hearing process, with the Club and Josh’s management mutually agreeing to the immediate termination,” the club said in a statement.
“The Sharks will make no further comment on the matter.”
Dugan was already off contract at the end of the season and was not going to be re-signed.
But the decision to cut Dugan loose now means he will not be paid the final two months of his salary, worth $850,000 a season.
The cost of his two NRL breaches will also now be in excess of $200,000 when factoring in NRL and club sanctions along with the lost wages.
Already off-contract and struggling for game time, the latest breach all but sealed the 31-year-old’s fate after 13 seasons and 215 NRL games.
Dugan took to social media 15 minutes later to confirm he had played his last game and would now look to community work and running his own business.
“So by now I’m sure everyone’s seen the news, and for me that ends my time in the NRL,” Dugan said.
“What a journey it’s been from a scrawny little kid at south Tuggeranong to debuting at 18 for the Raiders (and) playing Origin at 21 against some of the best players in the era.
“While (it) has ended the way it has I wouldn’t change a thing, it’s been a rollercoaster throughout my career.
“But due to my support network and my own grit and determination never gave up or took an easy option, in doing that I got to represent my country and state whilst playing over 200 games.”
Meanwhile, Dugan will still face Lithgow Local Court on October 7 after being charged with breaking public health orders for the second of the breaches last month.
Dugan and a friend had been pulled over twice in the state’s central west and ordered to return home.
Police at the time alleged they told them they were moving to the area and were going to feed animals before saying they were visiting a friend.
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
Sums up the tragedy of the egos of footballers and the consequences nicely.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Is that so? He fair dinkum sounds like he needs a companion human to follow him everywhere whispering "Breathe in, breathe out" to help him to negotiate each day! From $80,000 a month to nothing in one fell swoop - Centrelink beckons. Being a dill has cost him $255,000 according to one report today, in fines by the NRL ($75,000) and his club ($20,000), in a suspended $20,000 fine for some other breach which he has now activated, in two months earnings foregone and so on. He is about 32 now, departing sports millionaire status and no-one wants to sign him evidently, here or overseas. Does he understand his position? No ... "It’s been a roller coaster throughout my career but due to my support network and my own grit and determination never gave up or took an easy option, in doing that I got to represent my country and state whilst playing over ... games." The close mates will continue to gather around in the front bar to hear the grand stories, all missing teeth and grinning approval, until he stops buying them beers. Stunning stupidity!
mach4
Roar Rookie
Adam Eliot gone from the Dogs - Tariq Sims?
Phil
Roar Rookie
He was a good player on his day but very selfish, showing little respect for his team at times. Like the time in SOO camp he went with his drinking mate to a pub down the coast, against the team rules. There was another when at Saints he missed the team bus to Penrith for a game only to turn up by himself. I was pleased when he left Saints so some other club could have him. His latest breach of Covid rules paint him as a first class recalcitrant, someone not fit enough ethically, to play RL.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
4 years for the Raiders. 4 years for the Dragons. 4 years for the Sharks. If only it had been 3 at each..if only.. 12 games for the Blues and 12 for his country, he’s got to get ‘Such is life’ on his arm..okay on his ankle.
John Shaw
Roar Rookie
I wish him well. He always played with heart.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Thus ends the career of a bloke who had a whole stack of talent, a stack of injuries (and “injuries” tbh - honestly was there a game he didn’t go down clutching something?) and too many off field controversies. Unfulfilled talent or bloke who got the most out of himself? Either way I can’t see any nrl team taking a punt on him.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
He was a rather prodigious user of the brickie's laptops at Sharkies after training, so I'm expecting his savings account to get a pretty good wallop without replenishment in November.