Dugan can't wait for NRL season to start - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Dugan can't wait for NRL season to start

14/02/2011 06:26:05 PM Comments (0)

The NRL's next big thing Josh Dugan doesn't care much for pre-season trial matches.

After his man-of-the-match performance for the NRL All-Stars on Saturday night, the Canberra Raiders fullback says he wishes the NRL season would start tomorrow.

Dugan scored a try for the All Stars as they defeated the Indigenous All Stars on Saturday at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast.

Some of the games biggest names including Andrew Johns, Laurie Daley and Benji Marshall are now pushing for Dugan to make his State of Origin debut for NSW this year.

The explosive start he made in the NRL's showpiece season-opener, has Dugan itching for round one to kick-off.

"I'm ready to go. I've been ready to go for the last couple of weeks but, you know, got to do the pre-season thing and do the trial games and then jump into the season," Dugan told reporters at training.

The 20-year-old is shaping as a genuine contender to play fullback for the Blues this year, even in front of incumbent Parramatta star Jarryd Hayne.

When asked if his form warrants selection in this year's series, the freakish No.1 said representative football is not his main priority.

"That's probably one of the goals in the back of my head, whereas having a good start for Canberra and playing a good season for them is the main goal," he said.

"I'm thinking about Origin but not as much as I'm thinking about getting off to a good start."

One of Dugan's opponents last Saturday night was his club team-mate Tom Learoyd-Lahrs.

The burly forward has no doubt Dugan is ready for a NSW jersey.

"The amount of flair he's got and the amount of talent he's got there. It could only be a weapon for the Blues," said Learoyd-Lahrs, who believes Dugan's self-belief could be a real asset.

While Saturday was a performance to remember for Dugan, the All Stars match was a grim night for Learoyd-Lahrs.

Not only did his Indigenous All Stars get beaten, but he was charged by the NRL's match review committee for making late contact with his knees following a try by winger Brett Morris.

Learoyd-Lahrs said he's likely to take the early guilty plea which would see him avoid suspension.

The Raiders giant said the contact with Morris was unintentional.

"A front rower trying to stop a try in the corner from a winger is just a bit of foreign territory for me. I didn't know what I was doing over there. So I panicked I think," Learoyd-Lahrs said.

"Unfortunately I was just a bit late, and I got my knees in the wrong place. I know that's the rule and that's the way it's going to be."

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