NRL star Josh Dugan hit with mammoth fine for Covid-19 breach

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks centre Josh Dugan has been fined $50,000 for breaching the NRL’s biosecurity protocols and the NSW Government’s health directives.

Dugan was left behind in Sydney when his Sharks teammates travelled to Queensland last month but has now been removed from the club’s NSW biosecurity bubble over the breach.

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“The NRL alleges that Dugan has shown a continued failure to comply with the protocols and poses an unacceptable risk to his teammates in the NSW bubble,” an NRL spokesperson wrote in a statement released Thursday.

The breach notice issued to the former NSW Origin star alleges Dugan travelled to Lithgow – 150km from his Sydney home – late at night on August 20.

A police spokesperson alleged Dugan told police he and his travelling companion were on their way to feed animals in the area when they were pulled over. Dugan later allegedly admitted the two had in fact been on their way to a friend’s house for the weekend.

Under Sydney’s current lockdown laws, residents are permitted to travel only within their LGA or within a 5km radius from their home.

In considering the proposed penalty, the NRL took into account Dugan previously breached its health directives by attending a Potts Point restaurant in June.

He was fined $25,000 over that incident and has not played first grade footy since.

Dugan has five working days to respond to his latest breach notice.

Dugan’s contract with the Sharks runs out at the end of the 2021 season. He has already been informed by the club he is not part of its future plans. He is yet to secure a deal elsewhere.