Misinformation and a desire to prove the doubters is spurring Josh Dugan through his first week of regular training with the Sharks, less than a fortnight after it was reported he was seeking a medical retirement.
According to Dugan, he did no such thing.
"I never actively sought medically retiring," Dugan told media after completing a 45-minute ball work session with his teammates – his second of the week.
"It was tossed up and I said if it did come down to it, I've had a good run. It's something you just have to accept being in the league for 12-plus years.
“You do get old, your body does start to wear on you and I did accept the fact that that may be an outcome, but I didn't want it to be, the only reason why I sought out the surgeon about surgery was because I wanted to get back playing.”
'I LOVE THE BLOKE'': Cronulla Sharks young stars heap praise on Josh Dugan
What was missed in the original reporting was that, after being given a likely career-ending prognosis from his surgeon, Dugan sought out a second opinion.
"The first surgeon I saw said that if it was bothering me that much because it was chronic arthritis that was inflaming my knee joint, I may not be able to keep up with the demands of a professional sport anymore.
"He tossed up the idea and the surgery he suggested was a fusing of the joint. Obviously, he would have to cut lower down my leg just to keep that movement in the knee joint.
"But that would essentially end my career. That was the last option and that's why I sought the second opinion.
"It was all on the club’s guidance; I didn’t go off by myself or anything like that.”
NOT ALL IT SEEMS: Paul Gallen makes shock Josh Dugan claim after ‘non-existent’ off-season
Dugan isn’t back to 100 per cent. His work load will be managed, with two field sessions a week more likely than three, but he’s back out on the field where he’s certain he can do a lot more than make up the numbers.
“I'd like to think if I get back, I'll have an impact,” he said. “I'm not a player to go out, shirk it and not give a hundred per cent anytime I'm on that field. I won’t be taking the field unless I'm 100 per cent.”
THE WORST OUTCOME: Jack Bird pens emotional message following ACL devastation
The Sharks will need Dugan to fire if they’re a hope of landing in the eight. With Josh Morris off to the Roosters, Bronson Xerri and Matt Moylan still injured and Jackson Ferris yet to be rubber stamped to join the top 30, a former rep back who’s still one of the most dangerous in the game in kick returning is a valuable asset the depleted Sharks desperately need.
Even if Dugan doesn’t agree.
“We've got a stack of outside backs that could step in and play,” Dugan said. “It's just goes to show how good our local juniors are here.
“J. Moz is a big loss, but at the same time, we've got some players who can step in there as needed.”
Having a rep resume that’d be the envy of most footballers and being forced to contemplate his own footy mortality, it’d be understandable if Dugan dug deep to find something else – and couldn’t.
But he loves footy – and he’s got doubters to prove wrong.
“I've always had [the doubters] in the back of my mind,” he said. “I've had a habit of doing that in the past and that's probably a driving factor as well for me.”
When will Dugan return? No one knows for sure. It could be round three – but for Dugan it’s a week-by-week proposition.
For now, he'll continue guiding Cronulla's young backline through a torrid start to the 2020 season.
"With Dugey, he leads us around the park," Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo told Sporting News. "He is kind of like a J. Moz; when you have a player like that, someone who has been around the business so long, it makes life easier for us young blokes.
"He's our last senior player in the backline so, he'll be able to guide us with all his experience and take over Morris' job."
