NRL 2021: Sharks star Josh Dugan hit with $50K fine after second bubble breach in two months
Fined $50,000 by the NRL for failing to comply with the game’s biosecurity protocols, Josh Dugan is now facing having the remainder of his Sharks contract torn up.
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Josh Dugan will be asked to front Cronulla’s disciplinary committee for the second time in two months and explain why he shouldn’t have the remaining $140,000 of his contract torn-up immediately.
The former Test centre is facing a regrettable and costly end to his four-year stint at the Sharks after being fined $50,000 by the NRL for failing to comply with the game’s biosecurity protocols.
The heavy breach notice is Dugan’s second bubble infringement after being hit with a $25,000 fine for attending a Potts Point restaurant in June.
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Dugan was interviewed by the NRL Integrity Unit before being served his latest breach.
The 31-year-old was charged after he was stopped by police in Lithgow last Friday.
Dugan was with a 30-year-old man and both were around 150km from their homes in Gymea and Alexandria respectively.
Dugan maintains he was within his rights to be travelling to Lithgow, claiming he was in the process of moving home.
The pair have since been charged with two counts each of failing to comply with Covid-19 directions and will face court in Lithgow on October 7.
In a statement on Thursday, the NRL said; “The National Rugby League (NRL) has issued Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks player Josh Dugan with a Breach Notice for failing to comply with the game’s biosecurity protocols.
“The Notice proposes Dugan is fined $50,000 and removed from the club’s biosecurity bubble in NSW.
“The Notice alleges Dugan drove to Lithgow with a friend on the evening of 20 August, in contravention of the game’s Level 4 Protocols.
“In considering the proposed penalty, the NRL took into account that the alleged breach was Dugan’s second serious contravention of biosecurity protocols in the past 2 months.
“The NRL alleges that Dugan has shown a continued failure to comply with the protocols and poses an unacceptable risk to his teammates in the NSW bubble.”
Dugan has five days to respond to the breach notice which is separate to any likely penalty that the Sharks may deliver.
The former Test and NSW Origin centre signed with the Sharks in 2018 on a deal worth close to $850,000 a season.
Dugan has two months and close to $140,000 remaining on his Cronulla contract.
He is without a club for next season.
Meanwhile, George Burgess has been charged by police for “malicious damage” following a road rage incident in Wollongong this week.
Police allege Burgess threw a phone onto a road during a road rage incident involving another man in Wollongong on Monday night.
Police confirmed they had charged Burgess on Wednesday and he will need to front court.
“(On Wednesday) legal representation for a 29-year-old man was served with a court attendance notice for malicious damage,” a police statement read. “The man is due to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday October 19.
“The charges relate to an incident at Denison Street Wollongong on August 23.”
Burgess has moved to the area recently to resurrect his career with the Dragons after signing a two-year deal from next season to join the club.
Police said a mobile phone was allegedly damaged during the road range incident.
The other man was 32. It is alleged Burgess snatched the phone and threw it on the road.
The incident was reported to police.
The Dragons said they informed the NRL of the incident.
“St George Illawarra are aware of an alleged road incident involving 2022 recruit George Burgess,” a Dragons statement read.
“The NRL integrity unit have been informed. As the police are currently investigating the matter, the Dragons will be making no further comment at this stage.”
The Dragons threw Burgess a lifeline after an ill-fated stint in his native England this year.
He finished with South Sydney at the end of 2019 before signing with Wigan. But that stint was plagued by a positive Covid-19 diagnosis and a long-term hip problem. He left Wigan earlier this year.
The hip injury resulted in Burgess undergoing career-saving surgery in June. He moved to Wollongong last month and while he is not officially a Dragons player until November, he has started his rehabilitation process with the club.
Dragons recruit charged over road rage incident
George Burgess has been charged by police for “malicious damage” following a road-range incident in Wollongong this week.
Police allege Burgess threw a phone onto a road during a road-rage incident involving another man in Wollongong on Monday night.
Police confirmed they had charged Burgess on Wednesday and he will need to front court.
“(On Wednesday) legal representation for a 29-year-old man was served with a court attendance notice for malicious damage,” a police statement read. “The man is due to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday October 19.
“The charges relate to an incident at Denison Street Wollongong on August 23.”
Burgess has moved to the area recently to resurrect his career with the Dragons after signing a two-year deal from next season to join the club.
Police said a mobile phone was allegedly damaged during the road range incident.
The other man was 32. It is alleged Burgess snatched the phone and threw it on the road.
The incident was reported to police.
The Dragons said they informed the NRL of the incident.
“St George Illawarra are aware of an alleged road incident involving 2022 recruit George Burgess,” a Dragons statement read.
“The NRL integrity unit have been informed. As the police are currently investigating the matter, the Dragons will be making no further comment at this stage.”
The Dragons threw Burgess a lifeline after an ill-fated stint in his native England this year.
He finished with South Sydney at the end of 2019 before signing with Wigan. But that stint was plagued by a positive Covid-19 diagnoses and a long-term hip problem. He left Wigan earlier this year.
The hip injury resulted in Burgess undergoing career-saving surgery in June. He moved to Wollongong last month and while he is not officially a Dragons player until November he has started his rehabilitation process with the club.
Burgess said he had to learn how to walk again.
At just 29, however, the rampaging forward was keen to give it another go after successful surgery. He has pin-pointed a clash with twin brother Thomas in the annual charity shield match in February as his comeback game.
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