Dugan stakes claim to Blues number one jumperCanberra Raiders fullback Josh Dugan has sounded a warning that the battle for the New South Wales number one jumper is now a three-horse race.
The 20-year-old was sublime in last night’s All Stars match at Skilled Park, leading the NRL All Stars to a 28-12 victory over the Indigenous All Stars in a man-of-the-match performance.
In the process he put Newcastle’s Kurt Gidley and Parramatta’s Jarryd Hayne on notice that they weren’t the only ones with a claim to the Blues fullback job.
With the start to the season proper still four weeks away, there is a lot of football to be played before attention turns to interstate hostilities.
But so eye-catching was Dugan’s performance, which included the clinching try with eight minutes left on the clock, that it didn’t take long for the O-word to come up after the game.
Even Dugan himself admitted he saw the All Stars game as a stage on which to showcase his act to the people who matter when State of Origin teams are selected in May.
And he had a host of past and present Origin stars queuing up after the game to say the speed and strength in his 188cm, 94kg frame wouldn’t be out of place in blue.
Laurie Daley, Darren Lockyer and Jonathan Thurston all conceded Origin duties may not be far away for the Canberra junior, who is developing a happy knack for starring in big games, having also earned man-of-the-match honours in last year’s City-Country match.
But while he’s happy to declare his intention to win an Origin berth, he insists club commitments are his top priority.
“I came into (last night’s) game thinking there was a lot of publicity in this game so if I played well I would put my name forward for Origin,” he said.
“It’s one of my goals but I wouldn’t say it’s my most important. I’m only 20 years old turning 21, so it would be awesome to play for New South Wales but my first goal is to take on a leadership role with Canberra.”
That’s music to the ears of former Raider Daley, who coached the Indigenous All Stars team last night and was in awe of Dugan after the game.
“I’m sure if he continues to put in performances like that and apply pressure, he will demand (Origin) selection somewhere, whether it’s at fullback or on the wing,” he said.
“He has started the season very well. There’s no doubt he’s a very talented player, but so is Jarryd Hayne so it will be a battle between those two guys.
“We didn’t see Hayne out there tonight, so who knows what he would have done out there. You can only go on how (Dugan) played tonight and he was fantastic.”
Daley, who stood down from the NSW selection panel in the wake of Queensland’s fifth-straight series victory last year, said the Blues’ embarrassment of riches at fullback, which also includes captain Gidley, may be a sign the tide is turning.
Maroons skipper Lockyer, who captained Dugan in last night’s All Stars game, had the feeling the pair could be rivals come Origin time.
“He’d have to be close,” he said. “He was great in City-Country last year and if he keeps playing like that it would be hard to deny him a spot.
“He’s an exciting young player. He reminds me a bit of (former Raiders, Blues and Kangaroos fullback) Brett Mullins, the way he runs and brings the ball back.”
Lockyer isn’t the first person to notice the resemblance.
Daley revealed there had even been talk in the Indigenous All Stars camp of a genetic link between the two.
“They thought he was Mullo’s lovechild,” he said, laughing. “He’s a tremendous talent. He’s so strong in his upper body. You go high on him and he pushes you away.”
One person who wasn’t excited about Dugan winning a blue jersey was Maroons halfback Thurston, who saw enough of him last night as he terrorised the Indigenous All Stars.
“It looks like he’s in for a big season,” he said. “If the Blues don’t pick him, that’s good for us.”
Source: Brisbane Times
Topic: Dugan stakes claim to Blues number one jumper
