RUGBY LEAGUE
By his own admission Josh Dugan has turned the corner from the bad boy image he had for a few years.
Engagement, fatherhood and the most consistent season he has produced in his 120-game NRL career sees Dugan, now 25, a different man.
He was sacked by Canberra in early 2013 after drinking alcohol on a house rooftop with his then teammate Blake Ferguson.
Then in mid-2013 he was granted a lifeline by St George Illawarra, signing a four-year deal.
Dugan has played 50 games for the Dragons and has 49 career tries.
Dugan knew it was his final chance.
‘‘I have grown up a lot,’’ he said.
‘‘I am close to extending my contract with the Dragons for another two years and hope to have the deal done real soon,’’ he said.
His current deal runs until the end of 2017.
He has played at centre for Saints and for NSW in two of the three games in the 2014 State of Origin series win over Queensland.
‘‘I feel I only scratched the surface when I played centre,’’ he said.
‘‘I will play wherever coach Paul McGregor wants to play me whether it is centre, fullback or wing.’’
McGregor has several options in the backline with new Melbourne recruit Kurt Mann able to play centre or fullback.
Dugan hinted he would like to be considered for captaincy down the track and said he sees himself as a leader among his peers.
He said he had huge respect for Dragons skipper Ben Creagh who has signed up for one more year in 2016.
‘‘I feel I am senior player now and the young players can come and speak with me about things,’’ Dugan said.
Dugan said he is expected to be running again at training after undergoing neck surgery for a bulging disc, several weeks ago.
‘‘I hurt my neck in round one against Melbourne,’’ Dugan said.
‘‘I played all year with it.
‘‘I had pain in my arms and my fingers and pins and needles.
‘‘The doctor is very happy with how the surgery went.
‘‘I will be able to do contact drills in the new year.’’
There has been a suggestion he could follow the Parramatta flyer Jarryd Hayne’s footsteps to the NFL, but he said this is most unlikely.
‘‘If I ever did that I would have to fund it myself,’’ he said.
Dugan said he is eyeing a long NRL career with the Dragons.
