NRL 2021: Josh Dugan to appeal $25,000 fine for Covid breach

Sharks veteran Josh Dugan is preparing to appeal his $25,000 fine for an apparent Covid breach, as it was revealed he is yet to speak to his coach since the incident.

Josh Dugan is under investigation for a possible Covid breach

Sharks veteran Josh Dugan is poised to appeal his $25,000 fine for breaking the NRL biosecurity rules.

Dugan will seek to have a portion of the fine suspended – as the NRL have done for other players previously caught failing to comply with Covid-19 protocols.

The 31-year-old was hit with the breach notice by the NRL last Wednesday.

It’s alleged Dugan attended a restaurant in Potts Point on 25 June in breach of Level 3+ Biosecurity Protocols which require players to remain at home unless training, playing or conducting essential household requirements.

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Josh Dugan is facing a fine for a Covid breach.

The NRL have stated Dugan had been fully informed of his obligations by Cronulla and chose not to comply with them.

Dugan has apologised for failing to adhere to the game-wide protocols, which the NRL have put in place to protect the competition from being suspended and the subsequent loss of millions of dollars in revenue.

“I just want to say I’m sorry, it was an error in judgment,’’ Dugan told News Corp.

“It’s been a difficult period for me personally and I’m putting my hand up on this one.

“I’ve had all the necessary testing done for Covid and I’ve come back negative.

“I’ll isolate and do everything that is asked of me.”

Dugan has until Wednesday, June 7, to respond to the breach notice and it’s understood his management team are compiling a formal response to the NRL.

His willingness to come forward and put his hand up will form part of his response.

Josh Dugan playing in Reserve Grade for the Newtown Jets against the Penrith Panthers. Picture: Tim Hunter

Over the past 12-months, the NRL have implemented and subsequently suspended fines for players that have breached Covid-19 protocol by up to 60 per cent for the likes of Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr, Nathan Cleary and Tyrone May.

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett was also fined $20,000 for his bubble break to a Sydney restaurant in August last year.

Dugan‘s breach notice was metered at the same time the Bulldogs were hit with a proposed $50,000 fine.

The NRL are alleging the Belmore club failed “to take all reasonable measures” to ensure players complied with upgraded Covid restrictions.

Bulldogs players Dylan Napa, Brandon Wakeham, Corey Waddell, Sione Katoa and Aaron Schoupp attended two pubs in Sydney’s east on June 20, three days after the NRL had prohibited players from attending restaurants, pubs or bars in the Waverley or Randwick Local Government Areas.

Napa was fined $5,000, Wakeham $1,750, Waddell $1,500, Katoa $1,250 and Schoupp $250.

Dugan and Hannay still haven’t talked

Interim Cronulla coach Josh Hannay has revealed there has been no contact between himself and Josh Dugan after the veteran centre breached the NRL’s biosecurity protocols last weekend.

Dugan, who was photographed in a Potts Point restaurant when players were under level three Covid bubble restrictions, spoke to News Corp after the incident and apologised for breaking the rules.

Dugan, currently in 14-day isolation, is facing a $25,000 fine for the breach.

“Josh is in isolation and we haven’t had any contact with Josh since the incident,” Hannay said.

“What I will say is that as a club we are extremely disappointed with those actions.

“I think every single player, staff member and employee of the NRL right now has to understand the bigger picture and the importance of their actions and doing the right thing and how delicate the situation is at the moment.”

Cronulla caretaker coach Josh Hannay is yet to talk things through with Josh Dugan. Picture: Supplied

While Hannay had not spoken to Dugan, who has been plying his trade in the NSW Cup since round 12, the club confirmed welfare staff are in regular contact with the off-contract 31-year old.

Asked if Dugan had apologised to teammates, Hannay responded: “I haven’t personally heard from Josh and I am not sure if he has been in contact with the playing group.

“But at some point obviously in the next couple of weeks he will come back into the bubble and we will have a face-to-face then. At the moment, I haven’t had any conversations with Josh.”

While Dugan’s future is uncertain, Sharks teammate Shaun Johnson has secured a two-year deal with former side New Zealand Warriors.

Johnson revealed his homecoming happened as quickly as his exit over two year ago.

“If I’m being honest I never saw it happening. It’s crazy man how things work out. It was only month ago I was pretty gutted that I wouldn’t be staying at Sharks,” Johnson said.

“Literally last Monday, I got a call and then Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday I had multiple talks with the owner, Gus Gould, recruitment, the CEO Cameron George … just conversations about the club’s intentions about my intentions and it became pretty clear, pretty quick my passion for the club is still there.

“They felt I was a good fit and could contribute to what they want to do.”

The halfback left the Warriors, the club where he made his NRL debut in 2011, after a very public and messy break-up at the end of 2018.

“It [leaving] came around pretty quick and I didn’t get the chance to play a game in front of fans that had supported me for years to say bye, I didn’t even get to go and say bye to my teammates at the time,” Johnson said.

“I never achieved what I wanted to back there which was winning a comp and playing consistent finals football.

“There has been an element of unfinished business in the pit of my stomach.”