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Dragons stars Josh Dugan and Gareth Widdop set to test their value on the open market

DRAMA is brewing at the Dragons with two of the club’s biggest stars, Josh Dugan and Gareth Widdop, set to test their value on the open market.

Josh Dugan during St George rugby league training at WIN Stadium, Wollongong. Pic Brett Costello
Josh Dugan during St George rugby league training at WIN Stadium, Wollongong. Pic Brett Costello

DRAMA is brewing at St George Illawarra with star fullback Josh Dugan and skipper Gareth Widdop poised to test the open market in the countdown to the 2017 NRL season.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that negotiations with Dugan and Widdop have not been helped by the club’s decision to lock in Ben Hunt on a six-year deal worth $1 million a season.

It is understood the Dragons have indicated they want to keep both players, and Dugan and Widdop want to stay.

But the money that has so far been offered, and the length of the deals, is well short of the benchmark set with Hunt.

It is believed Dugan has been tabled an offer worth between $700,000 and $800,000 for three years.

Will Dugan stay with the Dragons?
Will Dugan stay with the Dragons?

Dugan is two months younger than Hunt, who will be 28 when he joins the Dragons next year, while Widdop is only a year older.

Another major sticking point with Dugan is that the club view his longterm future at centre, not fullback.

The market value for the best centres in the NRL is considerably less than what elite fullbacks can earn.

Cronulla reportedly paid Valentine Holmes $800,000 a year only last week even though Holmes has little experience at fullback, while Newcastle handed Cowboy rookie Kalyn Ponga $600,000-plus a season.

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The Dragons have come under fire previously for letting a host of star players go, including Brett Morris to Canterbury they didn’t see him as a fullback.

But in fairness they have also been chasing a top-class halfback for years and desperately needed to land a kill.

Dugan will play fullback in 2017 but the club have made it known they see his future in the centres, where he currently plays for NSW and the Australian Test team.

It is understood Widdop may also be forced to take a pay cut if he stays, even though the salary cap will increase.

Since leaving Melbourne Widdop has reportedly earned an average of $650,000 a year.

Widdop took over as captain last season.
Widdop took over as captain last season.

But the pending arrival of Hunt for 2018, and the emergence of young gun Jai Field, has only intensified the pressure on the skipper.

Field is signed until the end of 2019 and the 19-year-old speedster highlighted his enormous potential at last weekend’s Auckland Nines.

The Dragons also have injured playmaker Drew Hutchison coming off contract this year.

Dugan has previously said he would like play out his career at the Dragons where he has reinvented himself after his early troubles at Canberra.

But there is no doubt if Dugan decides to test the market rival clubs will join the hunt, although it remains to be seen if he will be able to secure more money than what the Dragons are prepared to outlay.

Player agent Paul Sutton manages both Dugan and Widdop but did not want to comment when contacted on Wednesday.

Dragons recruitment chief Ian Millward also wanted to keep negotiations private.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/dragons/dragons-stars-josh-dugan-and-gareth-widdop-set-to-test-their-value-on-the-open-market/news-story/fb59ecfbc3be962089dcfb4f63debbe8