Dugan to stay fullback: McGregor

After weeks of conjecture and a shaky opening two rounds, St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has declared the experiment of playing Josh Dugan at centre is over, with the NSW representative to keep the #1 Red V jersey.

Two matches after shifting the livewire custodian back to his traditional role, McGregor admits having Dugan back in the number one has paid dividends after he scored the match-winning try in yesterday's 14-12 victory over Penrith at WIN Stadium.

With the Dragons down 12-8 inside the final five minutes, Dugan took the ball deep in the backline and made a powerful run past Jamie Soward and held out Tyrone Peachey to plant the ball on the line. A subsequent conversion from Gareth Widdop, of course, was the sealer.

"His involvement is a lot higher at the back, without a doubt. He did well staying at the back - he's a big game player and that's what you like to see from them in situations like that. He didn't shy away from it."

Dugan had stated a desire in recent seasons to try out a move to the edges, and the arrival of Kurt Mann had prompted a test of that combination - but after Mann put in sub-standard performances in the Red V's opening two rounds - both losses - McGregor was forced by both form and injury to put the NSW fullback in his rightful place.

The Dragons will move on to a three-stage tour of Queensland in the coming weeks, starting with a Townsville trip against premiers North Queensland this Saturday.