According to the Sunday Telegraph we are reportedly on the cusp of signing a 4 year 2.8 million dollar deal with Dugan. Great news if true and win win for both Dugan and the club.
Here is a link to the Telegraph article:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...lback-josh-dugan/story-fni3g9a3-1226664369416
From zero to a $2.8M contract for St George Illawarra Dragons fullback Josh Dugan
EXCLUSIVE: REALITY hit Josh Dugan between the eyes on a car trip from NRL headquarters to the nearby Black Dog Institute at Randwick.
The date was April 2 and in the space of three weeks, Dugan had mixed together a career-threatening cocktail of rooftop Bacardi Breezers, one-fingered salutes and an almighty Twitter tirade.
At the same time, the St George Illawarra fullback had blown million-dollar contracts with the Canberra Raiders and Brisbane Broncos and spiralled from a NSW Origin candidate to NRL problem child.
What a difference 95 days can make. That's how long it is since Raiders CEO Don Furner and coach David Furner made the hardline call to part company with Dugan.
At rock bottom, the NRL insisted on Dugan making the trip to the Black Dog Institute, a wonderful organisation with a reputation for specialising in the ultra-serious mental health issues of depression and bipolar disorder.
IN case you've forgotten, these are just some of the reasons Kevin Rudd is no longer Prime Minister of Australia.
ugan began to undergo counselling. He's never going to be a complete angel, but for evidence of his transformation look no further than his form in four appearances since signing a last-chance five-month contract with the Dragons last month.
Today, Dugan sits on the cusp of inking a new four-year $2.8 million deal to remain at St George Illawarra.
Not only is the Dragons fullback poised to sign a long-term deal, NSW coach Laurie Daley is expected to name him as the shadow fullback to cover for Jarryd Hayne when the Blues team gets announced at Rugby League Central at 4.40pm today.
The only possible hiccup blocking Dugan's passage to the Blues squad is a lazy late shot on Cowboys and Maroons playmaker Johnathan Thurston last Friday night that will be looked at by the match review committee.
Judging on the replays, it would be a brave call to charge Dugan over the incident. "Without the second chance the Dragons have given me I'd probably still be on the sidelines," Dugan said.
"I'm looking to repay the faith and go long term. They've signed a lot of good players for next year and I am looking to remain part of the team. "It's a great culture and they've really helped me out.
"As a kid, I grew up wanting to play footy and wanting it to be my career and to not have that for the 10 weeks I was on the sideline, it really put things into perspective.
"I had to go back to work and I didn't know when I'd be playing footy again. It made me want it a lot more. The Dragons gave me an opportunity and welcomed me with open arms and I haven't looked back since."
Even last month, suggesting Dugan would be in Origin camp would have seemed a ludicrous proposition.
In April, he was earning $40 an hour as a labourer, with his time spent painting houses and lopping trees in the national capital. It proved the perfect antidote to help hit home the good life he had given up as an NRL star.
The ironic element of Dugan's new deal with St George Illawarra is his initial snub of the club when they tried to sign him in March.
The Sunday Telegraph understands Dugan was so close to signing with the Broncos that his agent Paul Sutton was actually in possession of a three-year contract.
That was until he launched his infamous Twitter attack on some Raiders fans. Dugan was due to drive to Sydney that day to sign the deal.
Instead, the sliding doors of the NRL led him to the Black Dog Institute, which has in turn led him back to the cusp of NSW Origin selection.
"As bad as it might sound, it took something like that to happen for me to realise and get the kick up the bum to put me back in a straight line," Dugan said.
"It made me hungry and made me want to do my best all the time.
"I've served my punishment of 10 weeks on the sideline and losing my contract from Canberra.
"If I didn't do anything in that 10 weeks it would have been hard to make the transition back into elite football but I worked pretty hard to keep my body right.
"I always had it in the back of my head I just wanted to come back and let my football do the talking. So far so good."
