Cronulla skipper Wade Graham believes Josh Dugan and Josh Morris are professional enough to cast aside contract dramas and deliver for the Sharks in 2020. He previously played for the Canberra Raiders and the St George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League.
news.com.au February 5, 2020 1:30pm Dugan says nope.
Now it can also be revealed that there was talk among the Dugan camp over the summer about attempting to be medically retired due to a knee injury sustained last July.Under those conditions, if the NRL accepted it was a career-ending new injury then Dugan could have been paid out in full.The Sharks would have also picked up $900,000 to spend in terms of their salary cap rather than being constantly trying to shift players to be cap compliant.The trouble was when the Sharks medical experts assessed the extent of Dugan’s knee injury and their view was the NRL was unlikely to approve it.The Dugan camp are now claiming the knee injury may require surgery, which could rule him out for up to nine months.The Dugan meeting on Thursday will be attended by Sharks coach John Morris, football manager Phil Moss and Dugan’s agent Paul Sutton.One of Cronulla’s highest-paid players, Dugan’s efforts over the course of the summer have been less than impressive on the training field.It’s become an open conversation at the Sharks about how the club tries to fix the problem.A fortnight ago there were threats about the former Test and Origin star starting the year in reserve grade with Newtown — now the Sharks are even considering trying to reach some sort of settlement for Dugan to move on.Fox Sports has been told the Sharks have set up a meeting with Sutton in the next 24 hours in a bid to try and resolve the issue.Club powerbrokers have held numerous meetings over the course of the summer about how best to handle the situation.Fox Sports has been told even some of Dugan’s closest allies in the Cronulla playing group have begun to lose faith in the ex-NSW and Australian star.Dugan was signed by the Sharks at the end of 2017 by previous coach Shane Flanagan on a four-year deal until the end of 2021.Since switching from St George Illawarra, Dugan has endured a mixed two years playing 37 NRL games and scoring 17 tries.A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. Cronulla Sharks star Josh Dugan has spoken about his uncertain playing future for the first time, slamming suggestions his knee problems have been fabricated. EXCLUSIVE. Dugan played for the New South Wales State of Origin, Country Origin, Prime Minister's XIII and NRL All Stars sides.
Josh Dugan wants to stay with the Sharks in 2020 but an over-supply of centres could see him squeezed out Cronulla star Josh Dugan hit back at a report on Wednesday afternoon indicating his playing future with the Sharks was in jeopardy.Josh Dugan has emphatically attempted to shut down a report his time at the Cronulla Sharks could be coming to an end.Dugan has two-years remaining on his Sharks contract, but faces stiff competition for a starting spot and Dugan remains one of the club’s highest paid players, but a report emerged Wednesday there is unrest with his training efforts among the playing group.Shortly after the report emerged however, Dugan responded.Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story ♂️The former State of Origin star turned his back on an offer to join Super League club Catalans, according to His place in the Sharks side remains up in the air with the 29-year-old fighting several key players to earn a starting role.Dugan is reportedly prepared to fight for a starting position even if it means starting the 2020 Telstra Premiership season in reserve grade with the Newtown Jets, who are the Sharks feeder team.Dugan joined the Sharks ahead of the 2018 season on a four-year deal but has endured up and down patches on the park.He’s appeared in 37 games and scored 17 tries, but with two seasons remaining the questions are being asked over his commitment.Dugan has played 12 games for NSW and 12 Tests for his country in a storeyed representative career, but has not played for his state or country since 2017.Dugan is apparently viewed as surplus to requirements due to his huge contract and the fact the Sharks are battling salary cap pressures.If Dugan remains at the Sharks on the wing, he would be by far the most expensive winger in the NRL.
Joshua Dugan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback and centre for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL and Australia at international level. Josh Dugan’s camp floated the idea of medical retirement due to a knee complaint, but was told by Cronulla’s medical experts that it stood little chance of being passed by the NRL. Josh Dugan floated the idea of medical retirement but it was rebuffed.
Cronulla star Josh Dugan hit back at a report on Wednesday afternoon indicating his playing future with the Sharks was in jeopardy. NRL 2020: Josh Dugan reveals what really happened with the medical retirement rumours ... Misinformation and a desire to prove the doubters is spurring Josh Dugan …