The Sharks have sacked troubled star Josh Dugan after his latest COVID-19 breach proved the final straw.
The former Blues State of Origin weapon was twice pulled over in western NSW, which resulted in him copping a $50,000 fine and being removed from the NRL’s bubble.
The Sharks had already relocated to Queensland, but Dugan was forced out of the NRL’s NSW bubble.
NSW Police first stopped Dugan and his friend in Lithgow just before midnight on Friday, August 20, about 150 kilometres away from Dugan’s Sydney home, and they were ordered to return home.
But they were again stopped about 40 minutes later while travelling toward Yetholme.
The Sharks this afternoon released a statement confirming they had terminated Dugan’s contract.
“The decision was made after a review and internal hearing process, with the club and Josh’s management mutually agreeing to the immediate termination,” the statement reads.
In Dugan’s first breach of COVID-19 protocols, the former Dragon and Raider attended a restaurant in Sydney’s Potts Point, despite being limited to stage-four protocols.
The NRL slapped the 31-year-old with a $25,000 fine.
Dugan was contracted to the Sharks until the end of October, but the club has clearly decided they wanted him out of the door earlier.
Dugan has played 215 NRL games since making his debut with the Raiders in 2009.
MORE TO COME.