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Dragons playmaker Benji Marshall is confident he will be up and firing for the round 12 clash with Cronulla on Sunday week, while halves partner Gareth Widdop has revealed he’s been battling injury for a large part of the season.
Marshall hobbled off WIN Stadium late in the 32-18 win over Canberra on Sunday and later said a knock to his left knee had caused bone bruising.
He failed to play out the game but plans to be available to take on the Sharks next week.
‘‘I just landed on my kneecap, I didn't know what it was but thankfully, structurally, all the ligaments are intact,’’ Marshall said in the sheds post-game.
‘‘We've got the bye this week, so good timing.’’
Widdop remained on the field but was clearly in distress after copping a hit to the torso from Raiders forward Sia Soliola with roughly 10 minutes to play.
He opted to remain on the field, and was showing no signs of injury after the game.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor did, however, reveal in the press conference Widdop had been carrying injuries for a number of weeks.
Widdop hasn’t missed a game since joining the Red V in 2014 but has apparently been battling with niggling soreness for the past month.
‘‘Gareth's been playing busted for a number of weeks, it's a credit to him the way he keeps playing under some pressure,’’ McGregor said.
‘‘He's not doing all the work at training because he's under injury.’’
But Widdop was keen to downplay the ‘‘injury’’ when quizzed about his fitness.
‘‘I've had a few niggles,’’ Widdop said.
‘‘But luckily we had a week off (two weeks ago), and we've got a bye this week, so hopefully those little niggles will be gone and I'll be fine.
‘‘There's a few bruised bodies but we've got the bye now which is great.’’
The Dragons otherwise got through Sunday’s game unscathed and McGregor will have close to a full squad to select from for the Sharks clash.
That’s with the possible exception of any of the club’s State of Origin players, who will pull on the Blues jumper next Wednesday for the series opener.