Josh Dugan vows to stay on the straight and narrow after ‘up and down year’

JOSH Dugan has vowed to ‘steer away’ from excessive alcohol consumption during Australia’s World Cup tilt after an ‘up and down’ year.

JOSH Dugan is adamant his wild ways are behind him.

He has even vowed to “steer away” from excessive alcohol consumption during Australia’s World Cup tilt after a year he described as “up and down”.

Officials at former club St George-Illawarra were at odds regarding Dugan’s worth and playing position, prompting him to join archrivals Cronulla.

On top of a horrid run of injuries, he hit the headlines after being late for a Dragons team bus and having a boozy lunch just days out from NSW’s Origin decider against Queensland.

Dugan is expected to play centre of much of the tournament.

While Dugan did not want to touch on his NSW exploits, he has vowed to repay the trust Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has shown him as he looks to keep his Australian centre spot.

“I’ve been training a fair bit,” Dugan said. “I haven’t been going out partying. Not that I do that.

“I want to repay the faith Mal has shown in me by picking me.

“I will be trying to steer away from (alcohol) as much as I can and focus on my footy.”

Dugan’s last game in Dragons colours ended in tears.

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He was almost inconsolable when his five-year stint at the club ended with a shock final-round loss to Canterbury which denied the Dragons a finals berth.

The defeat still burns.

“I was heartbroken,” Dugan said. “I wasn’t expecting to lose that day. I hadn’t thought that was my last game for the Dragons.

Dugan will play for Cronulla in 2018.

“I loved my time there. I have to thank them as a club and the fans for giving me the support over the years.

“They were the turning point in my life and getting my life back on track.

“For it to just end so suddenly and abruptly it hit me hard. It took me 45 minutes to an hour to gather myself again.

“I still get a little bit emotional about it now.”

The sticking point regarding Dugan’s future at the Dragons was his desire to remain at fullback when the club’s head of recruitment Ian Millward considered him a centre.

Dugan is now open to a permanent move to centre.

“I’m not too sure,” Dugan said. “I think I’ll playing centre for most of this tournament.

“If that’s how Flanno (Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan) sees it then that’s the way it’ll pan out.

“I would still like to give fullback another crack.”

Originally published as Josh Dugan vows to stay on the straight and narrow after ‘up and down year’