NRL 2020: Josh Dugan out of Cronulla Sharks training despite …
In early 2020, Josh Dugan was notably absent from full training with the Cronulla Sharks due to a significant knee injury. Here’s the breakdown:
Chronic arthritis & inflammation: Dugan consistently reported knee problems stemming from arthritis and bone-on-joint inflammation, as confirmed by independent medical assessment .
Contrasting medical advice: Sharks’ club doctors cleared him to train, but Dugan sought a second opinion. The independent specialist advised complete rest for six weeks .
Inflammation preventing consecutive sessions: Dugan stated he “was unable to train in consecutive days due to inflammation”—supported by both press and his own words .
Sharks raised concerns: Management noted Dugan “failed to complete enough training sessions,” and felt he seemed detached from the group .
Meeting called: An internal meeting was held between Dugan’s camp and Sharks staff, including Phil Moss, to reconcile the conflicting medical views and clarify Dugan’s fitness and commitment .
Paul Gallen’s support: The Sharks legend defended Dugan, saying there was nothing to indicate he was faking injury:
> “Reports that there’s nothing wrong with him are not correct… Doctors have to believe in what he’s saying.”
Reddit reflections: Some fans felt sympathy for both sides, one user highlighting the credibility of Dugan’s camp:
> “Sharks management has told the Josh Dugan camp the problem centre has failed to complete enough training sessions… The Sharks also questioned why… yet the former Origin… sought independent specialist.”
Injury: Persistent knee arthritis/inflammation limited his ability to train daily.
Split assessments: Independent specialist advised rest; club deemed him fit enough to resume.
Impact: Resulted in meetings, speculation over his commitment, and public scrutiny.
Despite showing up to rehab sessions (e.g., at 7 am alongside teammates), Dugan’s limited capacity to train led to tension within the club and between medical perspectives .
Need more info on how this affected his season or eventual departure? Just let me know!
