DUGAN - Risk vs Reward

[mickeylane]

As we lead into Josh Dugans negotiation of a new contract I'm betting that Millward and his team would be thinking long and hard about the size and length of the offer heading Dugans way.

The Dragons are in a totally different position to 4 years ago when the club went running w open cheque book in hand to sign DUGAN - we had little backline depth coming thru and more importantly had very little strike power at all.

Go forward to 2018 and all of a sudden the club has to start thinking of how they intend to keep the plethora of backline talent that will all be training w the 1st grade squad - this is following the clear mantra that Millward and his team have laid out which is to nurture our junior base coming thru and sign the chosen ones to long term contracts - so far the committment has started by signing Field, Duffy, Garrick you then add the likes of Milne, Aitken, Herbert, Thompson, Mann, Dodd and let's not forget Lafai who will have a year left to run on his 2018 contract.. This makes for 10 outside backs plus McDonald = 11.

There's no doubt that there's enough genuine talent there to take our club forward for the next 5 years minimum albeit the experience level within the above backline is a bit underdone ..

So we move on to Dugan - knowing what you have in the talent bank would u risk paying Dugan the $3M 4 year contract he is looking for on the below assumption.

Lets say DUGAN remains a SOO player for at least the next 2 seasons along w his occasional injury toll we stand to gain no more than 16-17 games per season from the player - and if it all pans out as its being planned he will be a centre.

Overall it's a risk that the club should not take - w the recruitment of Hunt the backline will be moulded around him and will feature a more free flowing running game - one which does not suit Dugans cumbersome ball skills and bustling running style..

I'm thinking the club WILL offer him a contract but I can't see it being more than 3 years and more than $500k a year and on that basis Dugan will head to market to test the waters -

I'm thinking that Newcastle will come in hard over the top to secure his services as they are in desperate need of some senior players to steady the ship..

 

[BennyV]

3-4 years, $700-800 a year, close the case.

You could combine the players you've listed and you wouldn't get close to the leadership, commitment and experience Dugan brings to the team. To have these youngsters (many of whom havent played a second of first grade, compared to Dugan's numerous caps for the his f**king country) learning from Josh would be huge for them. And that's not even mentioning his talent and ability, which is enough to get him those Australian jerseys.

Everyone is all about shiny new players but here's a top quality player who is highly committed to the club, we should be locking him up.

 

[Qdf]

3-4 years, $700-800 a year, close the case.

You could combine the players you've listed and you wouldn't get close to the leadership, commitment and experience Dugan brings to the team. To have these youngsters (many of whom havent played a second of first grade, compared to Dugan's numerous caps for the his f**king country) learning from Josh would be huge for them. And that's not even mentioning his talent and ability, which is enough to get him those Australian jerseys.

Everyone is all about shiny new players but here's a top quality player who is highly committed to the club, we should be locking him up.

Yes with out a doubt, Duges is irreplaceable...

 

[Dragonslayer]

3yr deal with an option for 700k seems the right $$$$ to me.

Whilst we have a great wave of new talent coming through you cant guarantee they will succeed, take YKG as a good example. It only takes an injury such as his to de-rail a career. You need a mix of experience and youth and Dugan provides the experience and necessary leadership.
Also, with the "pending" arrival of Hunt, I think Dugan will be able to go to another level instead of being used as a hit-up runner. We saw this in the 4 Nations when Cronk was the half back.
I also think Dugan will play centre long term as this will increase his longevity. I hope the trainers this year trim him down (bulk wise) a bit so that he may regain some of the speed he possessed at the Raiders (maybe too old?).
With a impending backline in 2018 of:
F/B - Dufty
W - McDonald and either of Mann, Garrick, Herbert
C - Dugan and Milne
6 - Field, Mann or Nona
7 - Hunt

That to me is a good mix of youth and experience. Plenty of speed to burn, height and agility.
A return to the days when we saw line breaks, hole running, support play and long range speed to burn tries.

 

[JDHD]

Dugan's future in the centres and even a Kangaroos rep gun centre should only expect $450-$500k a year.

 

[since77]

Dugan showed what he can do as a centre outside of quality halves in the Four Nations.

With Hunt running the show, Dugan would be the next guy I'd want to lock in.

 

[JDHD]

In 2018, our backline should look like this

1 Dufty
2 MacDonald
3 Aitken
4 Dugan
5 I Thompson
6 Field
7 Hunt

That's a top 4 backline.

 

[blacksafake]

3-4 years, $700-800 a year, close the case.

You could combine the players you've listed and you wouldn't get close to the leadership, commitment and experience Dugan brings to the team. To have these youngsters (many of whom havent played a second of first grade, compared to Dugan's numerous caps for the his f**king country) learning from Josh would be huge for them. And that's not even mentioning his talent and ability, which is enough to get him those Australian jerseys.

Everyone is all about shiny new players but here's a top quality player who is highly committed to the club, we should be locking him up.

Spot on BV.

 

[dragonssamy61]

3-4 years, $700-800 a year, close the case.

You could combine the players you've listed and you wouldn't get close to the leadership, commitment and experience Dugan brings to the team. To have these youngsters (many of whom havent played a second of first grade, compared to Dugan's numerous caps for the his f**king country) learning from Josh would be huge for them. And that's not even mentioning his talent and ability, which is enough to get him those Australian jerseys.

Everyone is all about shiny new players but here's a top quality player who is highly committed to the club, we should be locking him up.

Well said benny spot on.
He is a priority signing

 

[BrissyRedV]

I won't talk cash without completely knowing our full cap position, but I think a contract of 2 years with a 3rd year option in the clubs favour would be what I would be pushing for. I also see him as a centre and not a fullback. We have some very talented juniors coming through who are yet untested, but absolutely have the potential to make it and provide excellent value.

 

[giboz71]

Now that we've likely signed Hunt, I'm more comfortable signing Duges as long as it's not ridiculous money that will blow our cap. We saw in the 4 nations what Duges can do with proper halves so a combination of Duges running off Hunt may just work.

With all our juniors coming through. We need at least 2-3 players that will form the core of the team. If it's Duges, Hunt and say Friz, that's not a bad combo to build a team around.

 

[SaintHarry]

Yes with out a doubt, Duges is irreplaceable...

Thank you.

 

[mickeylane]

M

In 2018, our backline should look like this

1 Dufty
2 MacDonald
3 Aitken
4 Dugan
5 I Thompson
6 Field
7 Hunt

That's a top 4 backline.

 

[mickeylane]

In 2018, our backline should look like this

1 Dufty
2 MacDonald
3 Aitken
4 Dugan
5 I Thompson
6 Field
7 Hunt

That's a top 4 backline.

Nice backline but big problem is that both Aitken and Duges are predominantly right sided centres and find it hard defending on the left side .. Would be nice if Lafai could find his 2014 form!!

 

[JDHD]

Nice backline but big problem is that both Aitken and Duges are predominantly right sided centres and find it hard defending on the left side .. Would be nice if Lafai could find his 2014 form!!

Would be lovely but I think right side/left side gets worried about a bit too much. Centre is probably the easiest possie on the field and if you can't do the same thing on either side, then you're probably not worth paying.

 

[coastiedragon]

Without duges we would have been wooden spooners last year imo caps increasing 700 800 a year with a 7 not 5/8 to run off i think he will own the edge

 

[possm]

I believe in 2018 Nightingale needs to retire and the club should encourage Lafi to move on. If Doust can ensure this to happen then yes sign Dugan as a right centre with Dafty to be our new fullback.

As things stand at the moment, I believe we should move Widdop to 7 and Man to 6. If Mann proves to have the goods then he and Field can fight it out for the 6 jumper in 2018.

My 2018 team would be:
1 Dufty
2 MacDonald
3 Dugan
4 Milne
5 Aitkin
6 Mann / Field
7 Hunt
8 Vaughan
9 McInnes
10 Packer
11 Thompson
12 Frizell
13 Sims

14 Mosoe
15 De Belin
16 Host
17 Leilua

 

[giboz71]

I believe in 2018 Nightingale needs to retire and the club should encourage Lafi to move on. If Doust can ensure this to happen then yes sign Dugan as a right centre with Dafty to be our new fullback.

As things stand at the moment, I believe we should move Widdop to 7 and Man to 6. If Mann proves to have the goods then he and Field can fight it out for the 6 jumper in 2018.

My 2018 team would be:
1 Dufty
2 MacDonald
3 Dugan
4 Milne
5 Aitkin
6 Mann / Field
7 Hunt
8 Vaughan
9 McInnes
10 Packer
11 Thompson
12 Frizell
13 Sims

14 Mosoe
15 De Belin
16 Host
17 Leilua

Pretty close to the mark for 2018.

Although don't discount Herbert and Garrick challenging for a centre or wing position.

 

[MattoDragon]

Nice backline but big problem is that both Aitken and Duges are predominantly right sided centres and find it hard defending on the left side .. Would be nice if Lafai could find his 2014 form!!

Aitken can play Left and did so several times in 2016. When interviewed, he said he has no problem playing on the left.
The sooner Lafai is shafted, the better. Another inspirational signing, or was it because we couldn't sign anyone else???

 

[Walpole]

Dugan's future in the centres and even a Kangaroos rep gun centre should only expect $450-$500k a year.

Based on what?

Seriously, what are other top centres on? What are the top players at various teams being paid? What are other Australian and Origin reps being paid?

Where are you getting this figure from? Really, where does that particular figure come from? What's lead to that number?

Nobody on this forum who throws out potential salaries for players has more than 10% of the information you'd need to make an informed assessment.