Mal Meninga says Josh Dugan got off lightly

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Mal Meninga questions why Josh Dugan will play for NSW so soon after he was sacked by Canberra

• PETER BADEL
• THE COURIER-MAIL
• JUNE 19, 2013 12:00AM

MAROONS coach Mal Meninga has questioned Josh Dugan's involvement in Origin II after admitting he was "fed up" with a minority of players ruining the code's image.


Rugby league's reputation took another hit when Blues winger Blake Ferguson had his NRL registration suspended after being charged with indecent assault by NSW police on Monday night.The PR disaster continued yesterday, with Queensland authorities charging Souths forward George Burgess with two counts of wilful damage to a car in an incident in Cairns.The two events follow NSW prop James Tamou being charged with drink-driving last week and Maroons forward Ben Te'o remaining under police investigation for allegedly punching Brisbane woman Katie Lewis.Meninga said Dugan's swift return to the NSW side three months after being sacked by Canberra for several code-of-conduct breaches underlined why the NRL must adopt a more hardline stance.Picked up by the Dragons, he will turn out in the code's showpiece event next Wednesday night."As much as we want to see Josh Dugan playing our game, I don't agree with that (his return) so soon," Meninga said."I don't agree that's the way of rewarding his bad behaviour."One club has made a decision (to sack him) and all of a sudden another club picks him up because they need him




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Josh Dugan pictured at a NSW training session yesterday. Picture: Ruttyn Sam



"They don't make a decision on behaviour - they make a decision on his playing ability."I'm not criticising Josh's ability; we want him to come back and play, but not so soon."My immediate thought is if you are going to suspend someone or deregister, do it for a number of years."Look at Todd Carney as an example; he had to work for a living, go to the Atherton Roosters and see the other side of life."Let them work for a living for a change. When a club cuts a player because of (bad) behaviour, the game should be sticking up for the clubs . . . "Meninga, who has provided counsel for Ferguson in recent months, said the NRL's mostly well-behaved element were being let down by the "disturbing" actions of a minority of troublemakers.

"I'm disappointed. To be honest, I'm just fed up," Meninga said."If players are genuine about their love of the game and putting the game first, it shouldn't happen this often. I know at some stage a player will stuff up in their lives. But every time they go out they should realise they are ambassadors of the game, they are custodians of the game. Ninety-nine per cent of players do the right thing and they are the ones being penalised."Meninga said he was particularly downcast over Ferguson's brush with the law."Blake needs to make some smart decisions about where he wants to be in his life before it is too late," he said."I know that Fergo has a great heart. I know when he is not drinking alcohol he is a fantastic bloke - but he has some issues with alcohol and now he is paying the ultimate penalty. Sometimes guys learn their lessons the hard way."



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...cked-by-canberra/story-fni3fr51-1226665930840

 

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NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley has no problems with Josh Dugan's night out with Blake Ferguson

• DEAN RITCHIE
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 20, 2013 12:00AM

Josh Dugan pictured during a NSW Blues State of Origin training session at Coogee Oval. Picture: Sam Ruttyn Source: The Daily Telegraph

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LAURIE Daley had "no dramas" with Josh Dugan being out drinking a day before going into camp with the Blues.


While Blake Ferguson was arrested following the boozy night in Cronulla on Sunday, Dugan did not misbehave and will start at fullback in State of Origin II on Wednesday night.The pair were drinking before officially entering camp with NSW."It was in his own time," NSW coach Daley said. "I had no dramas at all. It was Josh's decision to have a beer, not ours."He wasn't in State of Origin camp. There were no allegations he did anything wrong."

There is no doubt Dugan is a rare footballing talent. In full flight, he is a wonderfully gifted player. But too often his ability is overshadowed by his bad behaviour off the field."He's been great in camp," Daley said. "You can see his class out on the training paddock."Josh is a very talented player, we all know that. I can tell he is really enjoying being back in the rep scene."We want him to continue the form he has shown for St George Illawarra this year. He is really playing some good football.

"The challenge is for Josh to take that form from the NRL into the Origin arena."Daley refused to criticise Ferguson, who has been charged with indecent assault following an incident on Sunday night."Blake's very remorseful," he said. "We didn't speak about whether there was an incident or not, more so about alcohol."For me it's about trying to support him as much as I possibly can and see where we end up with him. He does need support. It's a serious allegation."But he's someone who's part of our group and someone we really need to support because were not sure what's happened. No one knows too much about it."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...h-blake-ferguson/story-fni3fqyo-1226666504963