https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/652de71dc2c1ecb5ddbcb21e679146f6
JOSH DUGAN
The Sharks centre is entering the final year of his contract in the Shire and given he is on big money he needs a massive year in 2021 to stay.
Turning 31 this year, Dugan has managed over 17 games in a season just once since the 2015 campaign with the Dragons, which was when he played 23 games in 2019.
Through no fault of his own Dugan has been hampered by a string of injuries that have hindered his ability to stay on the park for consistent periods.
Dugan has had a great career for club, state and country having scored 76 tries in 207 games for the Raiders, Dragons and Sharks since debuting in 2009.
Josh Dugan turns 31 this season.
Josh Dugan turns 31 this season.Source: Getty Images
In that time he has also played 12 games for the Blues in the Origin arena and 12 Tests for the Kangaroos, but the last of these rep matches came back in 2017.
Sharks coach John Morris has reportedly been looking at Dugan as one of three players to move on in a bid to balance the salary cap and if so his future may be in the UK.
Dugan’s future in the NRL and particularly at the Sharks is dependent on staying on the field for the majority of the season ahead and dominating while he is out there, but his next contract won’t be anywhere near as lucrative.
MATT MOYLAN
Another injury-plagued member of the Sharks that coach Morris was looking to move on last year was Matt Moylan, who is also in the last year of his deal in 2021.
Again Moylan can’t be blamed for injuries, but you also can’t blame the club for looking to get a big money contract off their books for a player that is not delivering on the park.
Moylan played 24 games in his first season in the Shire in 2018, but has since managed 11 games in 2019 and just eight games in 2020.
The nature of Moylan’s repeated hamstring injuries is also worrying because there is a feeling they could be re-injured at any time be it at training or on the field, both of which happened last year.
Matt Moylan is entering the final year of his contract.
Matt Moylan is entering the final year of his contract.Source: Getty Images
The 29-year-old has scored 28 tries in 132 games since his debut for the Panthers in 2013, but he has scored just two tries in three seasons at Cronulla.
To his credit Moylan has reportedly been training the house down for the Sharks and has impressed Morris with his desire after being dropped late last year.
Moylan needs to stay healthy and dominate on the field or his future at the Sharks won’t go beyond 2021 and given his injury history it would be a brave club to take him on unless it was on a drastically reduced salary.
ANDREW FIFITA
Sharks legend Andrew Fifita is entering the second last year of his deal, which given his chronic knee injury will likely be his last contract if he can make it to the end of it.
Fifita has been a warrior for the Sharks and through no fault of his own is dealing with a knee injury that caused coach Morris to talk to him about medical retirement last year.
Turning 32 this season, Fifita is at the back end of his career after scoring 39 tries in 223 games for the Sharks and leading them to a drought-breaking premiership in 2016.
Fifita has also played 10 games for the NSW Blues and 17 Tests for Australia and his native Tonga in a brilliant career.
Given his service to the game, Fifita undoubtedly deserves to go out on his terms, but if he can’t produce his own high standards on the field then the decision may be taken away from him.
If this is his last season in rugby league let’s hope he stays on the field for club and country and goes out his own way.
