Josh Dugan officially signs a 4 year deal with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

[borat]

The thing that worries me is players like Mann and Milne will continue to get dicked around by McGregor in regards to game time, positions etc and will end up moving on because Mcgregor is looking after his own arse.

I think know knowing Dugans position we really need to use these players more and shuffle Dugan around to accommodate them

How are either player being "dicked" around? If anything Mary's team selections are proving correct this season.

Mann should see the opportunities that are opening for him and he already seems to be the first person picked when needed.

Milne is nothing special

 

[Lewish33]

So you're saying Mann has been given a fair run in the last couple of years?
I'm surprised he hasn't already asked for a release

 

[Carlton]

The last 4 weeks Dufty has been killing it that's a fact . Mary had the chance to play Mann at fullback and chose Nighty . Mann doesn't have a future at fullback at our club while Mary is in charge . The way Mann has been stuffed around I would be surprised if he even is with our club next year .

My point with Dufty is he has been groomed as a fullback right the way through he is a specialist in that position and with Dugan out should be given a game or 2 while he is playing well instead of stuffing the whole backline around playing players out of position . At some stage rookies need to get a start as will the likes of Laurie , Kerr and co next year .

Dufty has issues with his defence, which has been evident even in the last four weeks. This will only be highlighted more in First Grade. Mann is only marginally older than Dufty and has good defence and significant first grade experience. Dufty was not always a fullback and Mann has shown he can play centre, wing, 5/8 and looks like a fullback when he plays.

 

[Carlton]

I don't think they were trying to get him to leave. I suspect Millward made the decision that Dugan would shift to centres last season when his form wasn't great, and then refused to back down when Duges returned to his best.

For mine it's a straight decision between backing your juniors as future stars or sticking long term to arguably one of the better fullbacks in the game.

It could go either way and it does seem risky to bank on what might be over what you have right now. But 4 years is a long contract.

I do agree though that by Millward going public on the centre/fullback debate was a mistake that offended Duges

Aitken is re-signed as right centre, Dugan is offered a reduced contract and told he is a right centre and Field is announced as the future fullback. As a State of Origin and Australian rep would you feel unloved? Of course.

Dugans form, including last year, has been the one shining star for the club for a couple of seasons.

 

[Life's Good]

I wish Josh all the best. I good player but certainly not elite. He has secured good coin off the Sharkies for 4 years.

Frank Facer noted something important. Here is Josh available to every club in the comp. Dogs, Tigers etc. no one bought him at $1 million. Ended up at $750 k which is basically a top offer commensurate with his ability/ really the same deal we put forward.Remember he was even speculating about French rugby and American gridiron.

For years I have felt was over the odds. Got elite money from us 2013 commensurate with the cap dollars back then. Actually flicked us for the Broncos before finally coming back when things soured and cracking our deal. His 1st game against the eels was spectacular but that's about it. The prodigious talent at the raiders never really surfaced at the Dragons. However, played with courage and commitment for us which I applaud. At the Sharks he will do some good things and score some trys because he is a good player; that is what good players do.

When he was bagging the club for not upping the $300 k offer to Benji I posted an opinion that he would not re sign with us.

Well put & pretty much sums up the way I see it. I will add I think we actually withdrew any offer in the end forcing Duges to sign with the Sharks , hence waiving the cooling off period for fear the Sharks would give him a 'take it or leave it' ultimatum. Anyway, a shame he is leaving but better players have left clubs before and I can't recall any of them collapsing. We will move on.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

I always enjoy watching Duges play. Awesome broken play runner and kick returner. He never passes much but when he does that's also entertaining. A hospital pass, or a flick pass to nobody, and maybe one out of 10 that works. And that is a total of 10 passes ever because that's about all I can remember him doing.

I'm disappointed he won't be in the red vee next year. But here's the thing - we were never his first choice side anyway. He only signed with us because he couldn't keep his phone switched off. There's no history there, he's not a St George junior. He has no affiliation with the club except as an employee. I'll be sorry to see him go, but I don't feel overly disappointed either.

 

[ozbuck]

Good luck to him. I would say it's the last contact of his career where he can attract serious money...so he is taking advantage of that for HIMSELF and his FAMILY. This is NOT about him 'backstabbing' the Dragons by signing with the Sharks... or 'disrespecting' the Dragons. He also wants to play fullback and not centre. He is just choosing what is best for him and his family, that's it. Get over it. It's all good. Whatever happens, we'll be ok.

Why take it personally? hahaha. That's so ridiculous.

So first thing, we're in Round 11 2017. We've got the best forward pack in the comp, incredible spine when full strength and a dangerous backline. We're at least a 'grand final qualifier' team or better.

In 2018, who would be best at fullback? Mann? If so, re-sign him. Somebody else?

TBH, how to be better and stronger in 2017 is the only thing we should be focusing on. What Dugan does next year is really none of our business. Come the start of next year it won't even matter. Getting all bitchy like a womans tabloid magazine is embarrassing haha 'how could he!', 'backstabber!', blah blah blah.

Players come, players go. Everyone was gutted when Bmoz left. Has anybody thought about him after each game we've won this season? Probably not.

 

[coast_dragons]

who gives a shit.

 

[borat]

Aitken is re-signed as right centre, Dugan is offered a reduced contract and told he is a right centre and Field is announced as the future fullback. As a State of Origin and Australian rep would you feel unloved? Of course.

Dugans form, including last year, has been the one shining star for the club for a couple of seasons.

I doubt Aitken is signed for very much and Duges would have taken his centre position if he signed. I just think Millward was stubborn and doubled down on last years decision to move Duges to centre.

 

[Miller was a legend]

Well if idiots are attacking him for making a decision he is completely entitled to make as a professional sportsman (it's a short term business for a player), then shutting down his account is more a reflection on the supporters than it is him.

Clearly some of your supporters don't want 100% out of the guy for the rest of the year

 

[coast_dragons]

I am surprised he knew how to open a twitter account in the first place.

 

[thebigredv]

He's a Dragon for the rest of the year. I expect him to give 100% as he always has. That's all that matters right now.

 

[Carlton]

Good luck to him. I would say it's the last contact of his career where he can attract serious money...so he is taking advantage of that for HIMSELF and his FAMILY. This is NOT about him 'backstabbing' the Dragons by signing with the Sharks... or 'disrespecting' the Dragons. He also wants to play fullback and not centre. He is just choosing what is best for him and his family, that's it. Get over it. It's all good. Whatever happens, we'll be ok.

Why take it personally? hahaha. That's so ridiculous.

So first thing, we're in Round 11 2017. We've got the best forward pack in the comp, incredible spine when full strength and a dangerous backline. We're at least a 'grand final qualifier' team or better.

In 2018, who would be best at fullback? Mann? If so, re-sign him. Somebody else?

TBH, how to be better and stronger in 2017 is the only thing we should be focusing on. What Dugan does next year is really none of our business. Come the start of next year it won't even matter. Getting all bitchy like a womans tabloid magazine is embarrassing haha 'how could he!', 'backstabber!', blah blah blah.

Players come, players go. Everyone was gutted when Bmoz left. Has anybody thought about him after each game we've won this season? Probably not.

I would love Dugan to stay but if he goes that's life and we move on. The thing that has pissed me off is the fans so quick to start running him down both his ability and the way the negotiations took place.

Not one of us knows what occurred in the contract discussions and as far as his abilities he is a State of Origin Rep (MOM) and an Australian rep. He is elite and has a unique skill set among current day fullbacks. Will he excel with an appropriate game plan, yes. Will he falter with an inappropriate game plan, yes.

But don't knock the player who has put in consistently for the last few years even when the team was performing poorly with little heart.

 

[Lewish33]

Might be to remove the temptation to tell someone to "end yourself"

 

[Saint or sinner]

Should we be playing Dugan in centres for rest of the season and start playing Duffy field at FB instead getting them ready for next season since his moving on .. Good luck to him by the way..and start looking to future ..he can replace Aiken while his out..love the guy put can't pass and lacks speed of a genuine FB..but a great defender.. Money rules the world these days..

 

[Mark D]

If he is being abused then that's not acceptable and comes from the immature minority.... let's all move on... I expect Duges to give 110% for the remainder of this season a season for which we are doing extremely well... Only Melbourne worry me on our day we can beat all other teams...

I see many positives in Duges leaving .. good luck to him..: screw the sharks!

 

[Go Nulla]

Geez I haven't been in this sewer for years and it's great to see it still reaks of the foul * stained stench. It's great to see that your best player has joined us for 2018. Will ensure that we get the three peat 2016/2017/2018

Arrrhhh life is great. At least you have Ben Hunt lololololololololololo.

Geez that Doust knows talent lolololol.

Enjoy bitches

 

[Como Connection]

Well if idiots are attacking him for making a decision he is completely entitled to make as a professional sportsman (it's a short term business for a player), then shutting down his account is more a reflection on the supporters than it is him.

Clearly some of your supporters don't want 100% out of the guy for the rest of the year

Correct!
Dugan always put in.
Good luck to him.
CC

 

[Overseas dragon]

Absolutely great idea but Marys already said while I'm coach he's our fullback .until he gets an extension ,Mary will play it safe,just hope aitkens hamstring keeps him out for 6 months

 

[Miller was a legend]

Sharks would be happy for him to go to centre for the rest of the year, that's where Flanno will put him 100%