NRL 2023: Josh Dugan considering suing Cronulla Sharks, NRL for …
Former Sharks and NRL star Josh Dugan is reportedly exploring legal action against both the Cronulla Sharks and the NRL for wrongful or unfair dismissal. This comes after a court ruling in July 2023 where Dugan was found not guilty of one of the COVID‑19 related charges that initially triggered the disciplinary actions .
In late 2021, Dugan was sacked by the Sharks with six weeks left on his contract following what were described as two breaches of COVID‑19 biosecurity protocols and was subsequently fined $50,000 by the NRL .
The key legal turning point came in July 2023, when in Lithgow Local Court, he was acquitted of one of the charges, and although he was found guilty of another, no penalty was recorded .
Dugan’s solicitor, Paul McGirr, has stated they will contest the actions of the Sharks and the NRL, citing that Dugan was effectively punished despite being not fully guilty, which he argues set a “guilty‑before‑proven‑innocent” precedent .
Wrongful termination — the club may have acted improperly in terminating Dugan’s final six weeks of his contract.
Financial compensation — they may seek recovery of the NRL fine and unpaid salary leaks, estimated in excess of $100,000.
Reputation damage and procedural fairness — alleged “guilty‑before‑proven‑innocent” attitude could form part of the claim .
Dugan’s legal team is currently reviewing all relevant actions by both the Sharks and the NRL. No formal lawsuit has been filed yet, but they have made their intention to pursue civil proceedings clear should the review support their case.
Let me know if you’d like more details on similar cases, timelines of the court proceedings, or implications for NRL policy!
