Josh Dugan's first year at the Sharks would have plenty of ups and downs, with extended stints on the sideline due to injury mixed with moments of brilliance that have Sharks fans excited for what's ahead
Joining the Sharks for pre-season training after a successful 2017 World Cup campaign with the Kangaroos, Sharks fans were confident that the form Josh Dugan was in would carry through to Club football.
Unfortunately, sometimes things don't go to plan or work out how we would like them to.
The early signs were promising, with a try on debut against the Cowboys and a couple of solid performances split between fullback and centre.
Then, during the Sharks Round 8 clash on the Gold Coast, Dugan would limp from the field late with a fractured foot.
Originally scheduled to miss at least a month, 'Duges' would recover quickly to line up for the Sharks just two weeks later against the Dogs.
In the closing stages of Cronulla's win over the Knights the next week, Josh experienced discomfort in his lower leg, later revealed to be stress fractures that would sideline him until Round 21.
Over the final four matches of the regular season Dugan was back to his best, scoring a try in every match and looking to have overcome any niggles.
The receiver of a crusher tackle during week one of the finals, Dugan would again be sitting on the sidelines and unfortunately after the Sharks bowed out to the Storm, his first season in the black, white and blue would come to a close.
The upside to this, if you can call it that, was the amount of time Josh gave up to support Sharks Have Heart, the community arm of the football Club. Continually giving up his time to head out on the road to spread an anti-bullying message and engage with kids of all ages across primary and high schools in the local area.
The signs are promising and there's plenty to look forward to with Dugan in 2019.
In just 14 appearances Josh notched up 6 tries, 5 try assists, 5 line breaks and 55 tackle breaks.
Stats
Photo of the Year
In his first match for the Sharks Dugan crossed the stripe for a four-pointer, producing a try celebration that had plenty of people talking. While it may have had commentators and some fans baffled, it was a nod to hit online video game 'Fortnite'. What Dugan simulated is the act a character in the game will make when they are using a health pack to heal themselves.
2019 - What's ahead?
Josh will be ready and raring to go in 2019, eager to get back to his best, having signed a four-year contract with the Club that will keep him in the black, white and blue until at least the end of the 2021 season.
