IT might not be what NSW coach Laurie Daley wants to hear but Dragons coach Paul McGregor believes Josh Dugan would probably be fit to play if required for Wednesday’s do-or-die Origin II clash at Suncorp Stadium.
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Dugan returned to Dragons training this week just two weeks after undergoing surgery on the elbow injury that ruled him out of game one where he had been picked at right centre.
An SOS from Daley this week appears highly unlikely even after the groin injury that ruled Dugan’s initial replacement Josh Morris out of game two with the under-pressure coach opting to switch Dylan Walker to right centre and give Jack Bird an Origin debut from the bench.
Following his side’s 20-10 win over Melbourne on Saturday, McGregor said Dugan is a will be a definite starter for the Dragons clash with Newcastle at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
“He was very close [to playing against Melbourne] he’ll play next week. There’s no doubting that," McGregor said.
“He could possibly have played [for NSW] on Wednesday night if he was selected...but I’m happy to have him available for next Saturday night.
“He’s a marquee player and you need them in your football team because they’re your backbone.
“Jason Nightingale has been doing an outstanding job there the last three games but if you put him back to the position he plays regularly and you put Josh Dugan in your football team you improve.
“That’s what player like that can do and certainly Josh is one of the best players in his position in the game...if not the best.”
