7th Tackle: Sharks make massive play for Dugan
Here's a juicy entré to Friday night's local derby at Kogarah – Cronulla has emerged as a shock bidder for Dragons fullback Josh Dugan.
Dugan will miss the clash with a fractured cheekbone, but he's very much in the sights of both clubs off the field.
The issues around St George Illawarra's opinion of him as a centre are well-documented.
The club has tabled an offer it feels is commensurate with that position – around $800,000-a-season.
MORE 7TH TACKLE:
But Dugan is baulking because he sees himself as a week-in week-out fullback and expects to be paid accordingly.
Cronulla are prepared to pay him the same money they offered Jack Bird, allegedly the highest offer the Sharks had made to a contracted player in their 51-year history.
The lure of joining Cronulla is an attractive one for Dugan, who makes an almost daily commute from his Sutherland Shire home to Dragons training in Wollongong.
The big question is what would happen to current Sharks fullback Valentine Holmes if Dugan were to jump ship?
Our sources have suggested coach Shane Flanagan would make a call on their respective merits to wear the No. 1 jersey over the coming pre-season.