Josh Dugan defends himself against a social media tirade over his role in the Sam Burgess injury

ST GEORGE Illawarra star Josh Dugan has defended himself against a social media tirade over his role in the Sam Burgess injury drama.

St George's Josh Dugan makes a break during the South Sydney v St George rugby league game at the SCG. Pic Brett Costello

ST GEORGE Illawarra star Josh Dugan has defended himself against a social media tirade over his role in the Sam Burgess injury drama.

A fired-up Dugan stood over Burgess and roared as the South Sydney forward lay on the Sydney Cricket Ground turf.

The NSW fullback insisted on Monday he was completely unaware Burgess had sustained a neck injury.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor said Dugan had been sledged twice by Souths players after committing errors on Sunday.

“No one knew that Sam was injured at the time,” McGregor said.

“’Duges’ copped a hiding in the lead-up to that by their players verbally.

“It’s OK for them but not OK for ‘Duges’. He wasn’t to know Sam was injured at the time. If it’s good for one team then it has to be good for the other.

“Josh was just animated because we had forced an error and he was expressing the delight at that more than anything. Prior to that, they (Souths players) had expressed exactly the same thing when he had come up with a couple of errors.”

Dugan stands over Sam Burgess while he receives treatment.

For a bloke who goes down injured every time he's tackled @Josh_Dugan showed a complete lack of class. No excuses for it

— Josh Randall (@Josh_Randall85) March 21, 2016

@travismeyn @RLW_Mole @NRL_Dragons I think most league players are good honest young men. Josh Dugan on the other hand is scum.

— Jo Blo (@Jo_Blo2014) March 20, 2016

@Josh_Dugan @SamBurgess8 well done for giving it to a bloke with a neck injury, don't you normally tell blokes to neck up with a breezer

— jarrad mackin (@JMackin9) March 20, 2016

Told Dugan had been hammered on social media, McGregor said it was “ridiculous’’ that Dugan was the target of online abuse.

Dugan responded on Twitter: “Didn’t realise he (Burgess) was injured at the time. For dropping the ball, I copped it twice. Obviously didn’t see me checking to see if he was alright a minute later?

“Good effort and great win in tough conditions! Hope @samburgess8 is all good and nothing serious! #speedyrecovery #ontothenext.”

Good effort and great win today in tough conditions! Hoping @SamBurgess8 is all good and nothing serious! #speedyrecovery #ontothenext

— Josh Dugan (@Josh_Dugan) March 20, 2016

Dragons players say he would never yell at a player on the ground who had been seriously injured.

“Josh made a couple of errors and Souths were just spraying him. It’s banter in the game. Josh obviously didn’t know Burgess had been injured. Josh was just animated because we defended our line. He was showing emotion because we had just forced an error. They were doing exactly the same earlier in the game,” McGregor said.

“No one wants to see anyone injured in a game of footy. The game was played in great spirits by both teams. When teams force errors on others, obviously they get excited, that’s what it is about. We don’t want to see anyone injured, especially around the neck area.”

Originally published as Josh Dugan defends himself against a social media tirade over his role in the Sam Burgess injury