WONDERING why St George Illawarra have put a deadline on Josh Dugan accepting their offer for a new three-year-deal?

Having tabled the Test star a contract extension worth around $2.2 million with the understanding he’s viewed as a long-term centre, Dugan has until the end of next week to accept the offer or essentially start looking for a new home.

With Dugan the first move in the recruitment chess game, the former Raider holds the power of several off-contract players’ futures in his hands.

If Dugan accepts, he takes a centre spot, likely the right edge he has made a home for himself in the green and gold at Test level.

Round 19

He’ll also become the highest paid centre in the game.

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Josh Dugan of the Dragons shrugs off a tackle. Source: News Corp Australia

With Euan Aitken cementing himself as a first grader, an acceptance from Dugan would likely see him move to the left side and take the spot Tim Lafai and Taane Milne have battled for this season.

Aitken recently extend his deal until the end of 2020 and the club has already factored exciting NYC backs Reuben Garrick and Patrick Herbert into their plans for 2018 and 2019.

But Lafai, Milne, Levi Dodd, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Yaw Kiti Glymin, Kurt Mann, Jason Nightingale, and Izaac Thompson are all off-contract.

Dugan’s decision will have an impact on most of these men.

If Dugan accepts, it means players will leave.

If he stays then others have a far greater chance of securing a new deal.

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That’s why the Dragons have put a deadline on the deal.

It’s understood the Dragons have drawn up a priority list when it comes to retention.

Gareth Widdop, Jack De Belin, and Dugan sit at the top.

But there are outside backs on that list that the club doesn’t want to risk by Dugan taking several months to decide if he’ll re-sign.

That way their recruitment team have a clear picture of what direction they need to go.

They know they have talents other clubs will be eager to get their hands on.

Josh Dugan scores playing centre for Australia. Source: Getty Images

Samoan international Lafai is on a handsome contract for this season, a deal which makes him one of the higher-paid centres in the game.

Having trained the house down over the pre-season, he’ll have no shortage of interest with Melbourne keen on signing him just a couple months back.

The Storm were close to signing Lafai on a one-year deal after Lafai had fallen out of favour with Paul McGregor and lost his starting spot to Milne but a release couldn’t be finalised.

It’s understood the Dragons have refused to rule out the possibility of re-signing Lafai, while former Rooster Milne is sure to have clubs lining up for him after a breakout 2016.

It was only late last year the Dragons started talks to extend the 21-year-old although an agreement was never finalized.

New Zealand international Nightingale is also off-contract and told the club he wants to play on.

Turning 31 in September, the winger is eyeing a one-year extension but there is no hurry to complete the paperwork with some of the younger talents taking priority.

As it stands, the ball’s in Dugan’s court.

He’s previously said he wants to stay at the Dragons but knows this contract will be the most important deal he signs.

“My thinking is I’ve probably only got one big contract left in me,” Dugan told foxsports.com.au in January.

“I’m 27 this year, my thinking is I want to be playing some good footy for the rest of my career, but I think this is my last big contract — the age starts kicking in and the numbers start going down.”

There’s been plenty of speculation that Dugan could pack up his boots and play rugby abroad if he can’t attract the kind of coin he wants in league.

It’s a decision the 26-year-old will have to make and soon.

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