JOSH Dugan has a message for the haters.

He can ball play and you’ll see it at the Dragons next season.

The 26-year-old Australia Test star has revealed to foxsports.com.au that he has a lofty goal set for himself in 2017 and it’s one which he hopes will help his club side reach the finals.

“Going back to the Dragons it’ll be bringing my passing game back,” Dugan declared.

Round 20

“I feel like I’ve always had it and I do get doubted at times because I am a ball runner first.

“Back in Canberra I was setting up tries at will. When I got to the Dragons I went away from it and became more of a runner.

“I feel like I can just bring that back and spend more time passing and catching.”

Josh Dugan during St George Illawarra Dragons training. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

In Dugan’s eight years as a first grader, the fullback position has evolved to such a state where the No.1 essentially needs to play like a second five-eighth.

But that concept is something both Dugan and the Dragons have been criticised for not exploring enough.

“It irks me a little bit (when people doubt me) but I know what I’m capable of and my teammates know what I’m capable of,” he said.

“For me it was about sticking to the game plan and doing what the coaches wanted.”

To back up Dugan’s claims he can ball play, we’ve taken a look at the numbers.

The fullback played 70 games for the Raiders during his time in the nation’s capital, that’s only three games less than he’s totalled in the Red V.

According to the Fox Sports Lab, Dugan scored 27 tries for the Raiders and is currently sitting on 25 at the Dragons and averaged the same uses of the ball during his time at both clubs.

Josh Dugan scores a try for the Raiders. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited

But what he did with the ball at each club is where the numbers tell two very different stories.

Dugan set up 24 tries in his four and a half years with the Green Machine but has only produced eight at the Dragons.

He assisted six more linebreaks at Canberra with 20 and busted 446 tackles.

That’s 106 more tackles than his time in Wollongong.

Not only Dugan ball played more at the Raiders, but his running game was far more effective.

While the bulk of the work to bring back his passing game will happen during the pre-season in January, the Kangaroo said his return to the centres at Test level will help him hone his skills.

And with the departure of Benji Marshall from the Dragons, the fans can expect Dugan to become a lot more active with the ball in hand next season.

Josh Dugan scores a try for the PM's XIII. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Corp Australia

“I’ve done that at times this year,” he said of his ball playing.

“The game plan we worked around at the Dragons during this year — Benji and Gaz would play together so I would always be on the short side so I didn’t get too many chances to ball play. Hopefully next year I get a few more opportunities.”

The writer is on Twitter:@Nath—Ryan

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