Josh Dugan: Former NRL Cronulla Sharks fullback sentenced for drink driving

Former Australian and NSW Blues rugby league player Josh Dugan has faced court for drink driving after a night out.

A sacked NRL Cronulla Sharks player who represented Australia and the NSW Blues side has been fined $900 for drink driving earlier this year.

Josh Dugan, 32, pleaded guilty to a charge of mid-range drink driving when he appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday.

The former Sharks player turned concreter retired from the NRL last year after his contract was terminated when he breached the club’s Covid policies.

Agreed facts tendered to court said Dugan, who lives in Miranda with his partner, was driving a blue Ford Ranger south east along the Kingsway in Caringbah and was stopped at an intersection with President Ave about 3.20am on May 29 this year.

Former sacked Cronulla Sharks player Josh Dugan pleaded guilty to mid range drink driving when he appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A police car was also stopped at the intersection and officers noticed Dugan’s car did not have the headlights on so they signalled for him to pull over, which he did nearby.

Officers spoke to Dugan, who produced his driver’s licence and they could smell an odour of alcohol on his breath.

Dugan returned a positive roadside breath test and told officers he had his first drink at 5.30pm the previous day and his last one at 2am but could not recall how many beverages he consumed.

He told officers he drank a combination of medium and full strength beers, vodka orange juices and vodka lemonade beverages.

Dugan was arrested and taken to Sutherland Police Station where he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.117 before he was charged.

Josh Dugan pictured when he used to play for the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL last year. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The court heard on Thursday, Dugan’s lawyer Daniel McGirr said on the night in question Dugan had gone out to a party, had drinks and upon leaving ordered an Uber, with the rideshare record tendered to court, but the lift was cancelled so he “made the stupid decision” to drive home.

“He takes full responsibility,” Mr McGirr said.

He said Dugan did not ask for leniency, particularly due to his “not unblemished” driving record, but was cooperative with police at the time.

Dugan had also completed the traffic offenders program and written a letter of apology to the court where he recognised the danger he put himself and other road users in.

Mr McGirr described Dugan as a “former highly-decorated rugby league player” who represented Australia and is now a concreter.

He said Dugan had lost his job in Nowra after being arrested because he could not commute to the worksites due to having his licence suspended.

Former Australian rugby league and Sharks player Josh Dugan was sentenced in court on July 7. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Mr McGirr said Dugan now played football in Orange, mentored indigenous children in rugby league programs and had also recently obtained work as a concreter in the rural town.

His lawyer also submitted a reference from the Cronulla Sharks management which spoke about Dugan’s charity work and community engagement for the club while he played in the NRL.

The court also heard Dugan had completed a diploma in counselling to help him further mentor young children.

Magistrate Philip Stewart noted Dugan’s poor driving record and convicted and fined him $900.

Dugan was disqualified from driving for three months, backdated to the date of the offence, and he must have an interlock device fitted to his car for 12 months.

Cronulla's Josh Dugan during an NRL match at Kogarah oval. Picture. Phil Hillyard

The Cronulla Sharks sacked Dugan following a second breach of the league‘s Covid-19 protocols in 2021 prompting him to retire from the game.

But it was not long before he was back on the field.

Earlier this year, the former NSW Origin Blues star signed with regional NSW outfit Orange United for 2022.

Dugan was named NSW’s best player in the 2015 State of Origin series and awarded the Brad Fittler Medal for his efforts, after making his debut for the Australia Kangaroos in that year.