Raiders star Dugan on driving charges
Rising NRL star Josh Dugan kept his weekend arrest for driving offences from his club Canberra until after playing in the Raiders' Monday night clash with the Bulldogs.
Dugan, 20, was arrested on Sunday night for negligent driving and driving while suspended.
The next night he made his return from a knee injury in the Raiders' 18-10 loss to Canterbury at Canberra Stadium.
The promising fullback only told the Raiders of the charges on Tuesday.
After missing the past two games, Dugan came back in a last ditch attempt to impress NSW Origin selectors.
In the end, he missed out on a Blues jersey for July 7's State of Origin III game.
The club has so far only issued a short statement on the matter, pending Dugan's July 13 court appearance.
"Dugan and the Raiders will await the outcome of the court's decision before making any further comment on the issue," it read.
A club spokesman told AAP there were no plans to stand the youngster down in the meantime, and that he would continue to train and be available for selection.
Injured Canberra captain Alan Tongue agreed Dugan shouldn't be punished yet.
"Obviously it's a mistake he's made but I don't think Doogs has had too many problems in the past at the club," he said.
"You've got to put it all into context I suppose.
"It's just something he needs to work out and get sorted."
Dugan is contracted until the end of 2011, but there is growing speculation he will be headed to the Sydney Roosters in 2012.
The young fullback is the latest Raider to be arrested for driving offences.
Frontrower Dave Shillington - named in Queensland's Origin III side on Tuesday - was done for drink driving after testing more than twice the legal limit last December.
Forward Trevor Thurling was fined $1,200 and disqualified for nine months over a 2009 drink driving offence in which two people were injured.
Five-eighth Todd Carney was sacked by Canberra in August 2008 following a series of alcohol-related incidents that also saw him banned from driving for five years.
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