Nightingale gives Dugan signing seal of approval
Date
May 4, 2013
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Michael Carayannis, Adam Pengilly
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Josh Dugan Jason Nightingale Steve Matai NRL
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Team player: Jason Nightingale would be happy to return to the wing if the Dragons sign sacked Canberra fullback Josh Dugan. Photo: Getty Images
Reluctant fullback Jason Nightingale says he is more than happy to hand over the No.1 jersey should the St George Illawarra sign Josh Dugan.
The Dragons and Dugan's management met this week in a bid to finalise Dugan's return to the NRL since being sacked by Canberra in March. For the second successive season Nightingale has become the Dragons' makeshift custodian after first-choice fullback Gerard Beale ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament after only five games.
Nightingale has made no secret of his desire to return to the flank but the Kiwi winger will again line up for the Dragons at fullback against Manly on Monday night as he awaits news of Dugan's arrival.
"I'd be more than happy to move aside for someone like Josh," Nightingale said. "Obviously I'm more comfortable on the wing. If that's what's best for the team to have Doogs [Dugan] here than I'm more than happy."
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"Doogs is probably a similar style of [fullback] to myself, more a running type [of] fullback. I've done it a few times in my career now, I've probably got a little better at it each time now. The more weeks you spend there the more used to the position you get."
Nightingale revealed the the club consulted the players before opening negotiations with the troubled star. While most of the current Dragons squad only know Dugan as an opponent, Nightingale and Dugan were roommates when they played for the NRL All Stars in 2012.
"Everyone has seen what he can do [on the field]," Nightingale said. "It'll probably take a couple of weeks to get his fitness right. If he did sign with us this week, hopefully we can get him playing as soon as possible. As far as I know [the deal] is close but it hasn't been done yet.
"Obviously he has a few issues with social media - but that can get a lot of people in trouble. It's not hard to get in trouble on social media."
The Dragons face a Manly side which has lost its past six matches at Kogarah and has not won at the ground since 1997 when Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey captained his team to an 18-14 win. Manly's bid to end the hoodoo hasn't been helped by the suspensions of Steve Matai and Richard Fa'aoso, and a shoulder injury to Jason King. The man who would have opposed Matai, St George Illawarra centre Chase Stanley, said the intimidating Matai would be missed. "Steve is a quality player and very aggressive," Stanley said. "A lot of people have been talking about [Manly's poor record] but we won't be buying into that. We've just got to focus on what we're working about during the week."
Jack Stockwell figures his maturing body is doing enough to keep seasoned veterans out of St George Illawarra's starting front row.
Enjoying a string of four consecutive games in Steve Price's starting line-up, the former Australian Schoolboys star has retained his spot for the crunch clash. That's despite former Kangaroos enforcer Michael Weyman being in line for his first NRL appearance since round three after being named on an extended six-man bench.
But Stockwell, whose inclusion in the top-grade squad coincided with the Dragons launching a three-game unbeaten run, has designs on retaining his spot alongside Dan Hunt.
''That's a goal of mine to try to stay up there [in the starting side],'' the Picton junior said. ''Horse [Weyman] is a great player and it will be a challenge so we'll just see.
''I'm fine just playing first grade … it doesn't bother me too much [where I play]. I'm just trying to play consistently and I think over the last few weeks my game is starting to get a bit better. Hopefully I can keep building on that platform I've laid the last few weeks and cement a spot for the rest of the season.''
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