However, there was some good news for the Dragons yesterday, with centre Matt Cooper cleared of a serious ankle injury.

Cooper was limping badly in the dressing rooms following Sunday's win, after spending time off the field with an ankle injury in the first half.

With the Dragons having a bye this weekend, a club spokesperson expected him to be fit in time to play the Warriors in New Zealand Sunday week.

"He's got some bruising on the heel and it's pretty sore," he said.

"But he just needs to rest it and he should be fine."

Bennett said he was expecting lock Jeremy Smith to make his long-awaited return from an ankle injury against the Warriors, while prop Michael Weyman may also make a surprise early return.

"Smith is close, he nearly played (against Manly), but just wasn't there," Bennett said.

"Michael Weyman will be very close, Matt Prior went down with glandular fever, so he will be close with another two weeks before we play again."

The Dragons will also welcome the return of NSW representatives Ben Creagh and Justin Poore and Queenslanders Neville Costigan and Darius Boyd after tomorrow night's State of Origin clash in Brisbane.

Bennett admitted to being impressed by the remarkable depth in the St George Illawarra squad, with impressive performances from mid-season signing Nathan Fien, centre Chase Stanley and winger Michael Lett on Sunday.

"You can carry four missing, maybe, with the squad," Bennett said.

"But once you get above the four mark you become very vulnerable.

"But these guys had eight missing (before Origin I) against Penrith and nine (against Manly) and they just stood up for us."

Meanwhile, Fien will escape suspension despite being charged with a grade one careless high tackle from Sunday's game.

Manly centre Steve Matai is facing up to three weeks out if he contests and is found guilty of one charge of dangerous contact to the head and another of dangerous contact to the legs.

An early guilty plea on both incidents means he will miss two weeks.