15 runs (138m),
11 Tackle breaks
1 Line break assist
1 Try Assist
5 errors
Only 3 tackles despite the Warriors spending the entire second half in the Raiders' backfield.
Nobody's denying it was a solid attacking performance. Certainly any team that presents a staggered defensive line (like the Warriors continually do) will give him a lot of opportunities to break tackles one-on-one.
It reminds me of back when Hayne wasn't constantly presented with a wall of defenders every time the ball came near him, and he responded with 32 linebreaks and over 4000 running metres for the season.
But sooner or later the top players draw special attention from defences, and this will probably happen to Dugan too, eventually. He won't have the luxury of snipers coming out of the line at him (like when Maloney rushed out and chopped him down today - most times Dugan will break that tackle and find some space) or staggered kick-chasers (like when he beat two and went for his run down the sideline before throwing it infield to Locke). If he'd been presented with a better kick chase, he would not have been lured near the sideline and conceded possession.
It's good that Dugan hasn't gone into his shell, attack-wise, and it's been helped by having decent (not good, decent) halves that let him get wide. But he really needs to work on the defensive side of his game. Because bombs and front-on tackles are only part of a fullback's defensive job.
