Dugan admitted he had been given a second - and last - chance in the NRL by signing a contract with St George Illawarra Dragons until the end of the season. The Dragons are contemplating playing him as early as this weekend.

Speaking publicly for the first time since he was sacked by the Raiders in March for drinking alcohol on a rooftop while injured, Dugan said:

Critics claim Canberra is being penalised for taking strong disciplinary action by sacking Dugan for his long-list of misdemeanours, only for the NRL to register a contract with a rival club in the same season.

The NRL stepped in to ban Todd Carney for the remainder of the 2008 season when the Raiders sacked him under similar circumstances.

Dugan acknowledged Raiders fans would be angry with the way he had departed the club, but stopped short of saying sorry.

''Everyone's got to earn a living and playing rugby league is my living,'' Dugan said. ''I'm very appreciative of the support I had over the years in Canberra and this is the next chapter for me.''

After a round one loss to the Penrith Panthers, Dugan posted a photo on Instagram of himself drinking on a rooftop and sticking up his middle finger.

It was understood he'd had a falling out with coach David Furner, who confronted Dugan at the house on the same day.

Dugan denied sabotaging his contract with the Raiders.

''Definitely not true, I grew up in Canberra, they gave me the opportunity to play first grade ... that was the last thing I wanted to do,'' Dugan said.

''I've always been the sort of person that doesn't dwell on things and it [the photo with the middle-finger gesture] was never aimed at anyone. It was my way of saying life goes on, which I look back now and it was definitely not the right thing to do, it could have been taken out of proportion very easily. I've had a lot of time to think about that ... I'm looking forward to getting back on track.''

''[Furner and I] had words but it was never as bad as everyone made it out to be. I messaged the next day apologising for the way things went down. And basically said thanks for the opportunity because they gave me the letter saying they were going to release me. I took the front foot and apologised and tried to speak to a fair few of the boys and let them know I was going to be there anymore.

''I breached club policy, things went down that way, then the club gave me the sack ... I probably could have done things a bit better.''

Since being sacked by the Raiders, Dugan cost himself a contract with the Brisbane Broncos worth a reported $2 million, by responding to a fan on social media and telling him to ''end yourself''.

Dugan said he was prepared to abide by the Dragons' social media policy, but would not give up Twitter and other social media outlets because it was important in building his ''brand'' as an NRL star with sponsors and fans.

''I've been copping a fair bit of stick ... I think I've learned my lesson, now I'm just blocking and deleting,'' Dugan said.

Dugan said he had undergone counselling and had also met with the NRL's careers liaison four times, fearing at some stages that he may not be given another chance to play in the NRL.

Despite saying alcohol had ''never been an issue'' during his career in Canberra, Dugan said he had placed himself on a six-week drinking ban.

''My mental state was always pretty good, it was just a bit of regret the way things went down in Canberra and worry about whether I was going to play NRL again,'' Dugan said.

"I had a couple of stuff-ups in Canberra ... I think this is the last chance I'll have.''