By Jack Brady (NRL.com)
Versatile St George Illawarra superstar Josh Dugan isn't sure what position he will slot into next season given New South Wales fullback Jarryd Hayne's departure from the NRL.
Dugan's move to the three-quarter line began in a Round 12 clash with the Rabbitohs, and the former Blues fullback went on to play a further 10 NRL games out wide, as well as an Origin series win.
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Now with incumbent NSW custodian Hayne's departure from the NRL leaving a sizeable hole in the Blues set-up, Dugan admitted to being confused in his positional preference at the start of the Dragons' pre-season.
"I'm not too sure [where I'll play] to be honest," Dugan said.
"I sat down with Mary one-on-one before we broke away for the off-season and I told him I'd like to do a bit of both because I feel I only scratched the surface at centre."
"But you know with Haynesy pursuing an NFL career it might be in my best interests to be a fullback. [In saying that] I love a challenge... and I feel I can improve a lot more in the centres.
"I was on such a high last year winning an Origin series and playing some pretty good games there for the Dragons as well so I've played some good footy in both positions now... but we'll see what's best for the team when the time comes."
While it was then-caretaker coach Paul McGregor who initiated Dugan's shift into the frontline, the former Raider insisted the move was made first and foremost for the betterment of the Dragons.
"We were chopping and changing at right centre with Joely Thompson," said Dugan.
"He's a back-rower and was playing centre plus Dylan Farrell was injured so Mary asked me how I felt about moving and I said 'throw me in'.
"At that time Adam Quinlan was playing some great footy at fullback and he deserved to be in the team so I was happy to make way for him to come through."
Forced to withdraw from the Four Nations due to a thumb injury suffered in the Dragons' last game of the year, the 24-year-old said he was eager to just get through to 2015 fully fit.
"I'm hoping to get through the next eight weeks of pre-season injury-free heading into the trials and Nines next year and just be fit and ready to go when Round 1 comes," said Dugan.
"Whatever comes after that I'll grab with both hands."
