Josh Dugan is opening up about being a role model, lecturing players on Twitter etiquette, the prospect of playing in this year's World Cup and advising his good mate Blake Ferguson.
While holding court on all of the above and more, Dugan realises the absurdity of it all. That he could be in a position to be broaching any of the topics. ''It's very surreal to think I was out of the game, I was almost rubbed out,'' Dugan said. ''Now to come back and be picked in the last two Origin games of this year, I kind of have to pinch myself sometimes.''
In March, Dugan was sacked by Canberra for a string of misdemeanours. He frittered - rather twittered - away his Broncos opportunity. Yet on Wednesday night he has the chance to etch his name into folklore as part of the NSW team that finally ended Queensland's seven-year run.
''This year has been a roller-coaster for me,'' Dugan said. ''A few months ago I was worried about whether I would even be back playing footy in Australia. That really hit home and realised what I had to lose. I used to take things for granted before and now it's fresh in my mind I've got a big opportunity and it's a blessing to be who I am.''
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So who is Josh Dugan? Is this the same bloke knocking back Breezers on a Canberra rooftop? Has he really changed? ''I'm the same sort of personality but I've just matured,'' he said. ''I've learnt to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. I don't let things get to me so much and I've had to get a thicker skin. People are out there trying to bait me almost every day [on Twitter]. Now I just block and delete and don't let it faze me. That was one of the biggest things in the time I spent off. I did about eight weeks of counselling and that really helped a lot. It made me realise a few things and it really helped.''
Dugan can empathise with another man who almost lost it all. Friend and former teammate Ferguson, often his partner in crime during several misdemeanours, is on the outer after finding trouble on the drink. Dugan believes that Ferguson, too, can come back from the brink and return to the representative football.
''As one of his good friends, I just hope he gets everything together, rides this wave and comes back bigger and better,'' Dugan said.
''This is a learning curve for him and I went through a similar thing, the way the media goes about it. He's off in the community with Choc [Anthony Mundine], doing the right things. If he continues to do that he can hopefully come back. I've just said to him to lay low, go about everything the way you normally would. He's doing the right thing.''
After almost being club-less - the Dragons were the only NRL outfit prepared to punt on Dugan - the NRL All Star dares to even dream of being part of Tim Sheens' Kangaroos squad for the World Cup. ''It's not so far-fetched any more,'' he said.
When he first arrived at the Dragons, Dugan lectured their under-20s players about the pitfalls of social media. That, as well as undertaking a social worker's course, are what he hopes are the first steps to becoming a role model.
''I want to give back to people and I've always tried to do things in the community,'' he said. ''I like to give back and the social worker's course will help me. Bronx Goodwin will do [work in] the Dragons' community next year, which I'd like to be involved in.
''Then you've got Joel Thompson doing the indigenous community, so I'd love to help out both of them and give back. It's tough [changing perceptions] but that's why I've learnt to brush things off. Most people who know me know I'm not such a bad person, that I do try to do the right thing most of the time.''
Twitter: @proshenks
my prediction de belin;-)
