Dragons wary of 'big game player' Dugan

It’s why his former teammates are bracing for the very best of the incumbent Test and Origin centre when he comes up against his former club at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Thursday. 

The shift to his former club’s arch-rivals is a new beginning for the 27-year-old, who endured a tumultuous final season with the Dragons in 2017. 

Off-contract, Dugan found himself at odds with Dragons recruitment chief Ian Millward over his market value and best position on the park. It saw him ultimately knock back a three-year deal to link with the Sharks.

He also wore the brunt of criticism for the Blues Origin series loss following a now infamous trip to the Lennox Point hotel with teammate Blake Ferguson in the lead-up to game three.

Coming up against his former club will again put Dugan under the microscope, but Dragons veteran Jason Nightingale says its somewhere his old mate has always thrived.

“That’s just the type of guy he is,” Nightingale said.

“When we had him here playing against Canberra, although he got sin-binned a couple of times, he was always right up for it. He’ll be nervous, that’s for sure, but he’s a big-game player and I’m sure he’ll have a big game.

“He’s a competitive guy especially when his back’s against the wall – not that it is now, he’s just signed at a new club and played pretty well on the weekend. 

“I think just through the fact he’s  playing his old club he’ll want to impress out of care more than anything else. I don’t think he’ll be out to rub our face in it or anything like that but he’ll want to be making a good impression and saying ‘hey look at me’.”

Contract dramas aside, Dugan’s departure was somewhat ignominious after he sensationally missed the bus en route the Dragons round 25 clash with Penrith that ended in one of the best wins of their season.

Coach Paul McGregor consulted his senior leadership group before making the decision to stand Dugan down but Nightingale insists Dugan left, and remains, on good terms with the playing group.

“It was sad to see him go, as a playing group and as a friend,” Nightingale said.

“I played with him for a long time and he’s a great guy Dugey. You miss [having] him on the trips down [from Sydney] and still speak to him a bit. It’s good to keep those relationships going and he’ll be missed at the club.”

A disappointing defeat at the hands of the Bulldogs proved Dugan’s final game for the Dragons but he was one of the Kangaroos best in a successful World Cup campaign with Australia.

He’ll be looking to emulate that form with his new club and Tim Lafai, who’ll directly oppose Dugan on Thursday, said the Dragons entire left edge will need to be on their game.

“I think the boys are pretty excited to come up against Dugey,” Lafai said.

“He loves the pressure situations so I’m sure he’ll be excited. He’s an Australian Test player and an Origin player so he’s definitely up there as one of the best centres in the game. I’ve got to do my homework with the guys on the left edge to shut him down.”