Gorden Tallis questions Dugan’s future after latest injury woe

After Josh Dugan limped off the field with a hamstring injury that is likely to sideline him for at least two weeks, league great Gorden Tallis said the Sharks star’s career was at a crossroads.

Firebrand Gorden Tallis has questioned whether Josh Dugan wants to continue putting his body on the line as Cronulla’s injury toll mounts after they slumped to their fourth consecutive loss.

Cronulla coach John Morris made an impassioned defence of his star praising his courage for playing with injury in recent weeks.

Dugan limped from the field in the first half with a hamstring injury which is set to sideline the former rep star. Josh Morris suffered a badly broken nose while halfback Chad Townsend was placed on report for pulling the hair of Felise Kaufusi.

The Sharks are also without Wade Graham and Matt Moylan for at least another fortnight with hamstring injuries while Paul Gallen (glute) missed the loss to the Storm but could play against the Warriors on Friday.

Josh Dugan reacts after sustaining a hamstring injury during Cronulla’s clash with Melbourne. Picture: AAP

The loss in front of 22737 people puts Cronulla outside the top eight.

John Morris described his dressing room as a “hospital ward” and he was unsure what sort of side he would field against the Warriors with the team leaving for New Zealand on Tuesday.

But much of the focus centred around Dugan — who called out people on social media for questioning his commitment last week after he suffered a badly bruised back. He was back in the spotlight because Tallis questioned Dugan’s future.

“Every time I’ve watched him this year he’s down a lot and with the welfare of players now you would think that Josh Dugan is at the crossroads where he doesn’t finish a lot of games. He’s playing, what, 10 games a season for the Sharks”,’’ Tallis told Fox League.

“He’d be high on the salary cap, there’s got to be a discussion around does he want to be paying the price?

“Everyone plays injured but every time I watch him play he’s on the canvas. It’s sad watching him. Either you watch this guy go out and get beaten up every week or he goes and sits in the crowd with everybody else.”

Cronulla’s Josh Dugan leaves the field injured.

Morris hit back.

“It’s harsh,” Morris said.

“Duges has been solid this year. If you look at the centres alone in the game and compare their stats, Josh Dugan is ranked right up the top.

“I’ve been impressed with him. He has given us something. He shouldn’t have played. He was busted. He is playing with a busted back. He got needled before he came out to play. People don’t see that and what they are doing to represent their club.”

The Sharks trailed by just two points after 57 minutes when they were cruelled denied a try to Sosaia Feki for an apparent forward pass which Morris called “line ball”.

The bounce back to form of Shaun Johnson was a highlight for the Sharks with the five-eighth scoring a great individual try after looking more threating with the ball than in recent weeks.

“That’s Shaun when he is playing confident,” Morris said.

“We saw a bit more steel in his defence. He has had a great week at training. He is slowly getting better and better.”

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