RUGBY LEAGUE
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The wildly successful Josh Dugan centre experiment could have run its course but Benji Marshall is not expecting the Dragons' right edge to be any less potent upon the potential return of Dylan Farrell this week.
Marshall formed a lethal combination with Dugan, providing the assist for four of his five tries since switching to right centre.
Dugan will miss Saturday's match with the Cowboys after he was named in the NSW side for Game III, with Peter Mata'utia his replacement in the centres.
Farrell was also named on an extended six-man bench for the Cowboys match after he made a quicker than expected recovery from a torn pectoral muscle and looms as the likely long-term occupant of the right centre spot.
His return may see Dugan shifted back to fullback on his return from Origin duty but Marshall is confident he can build a similarly potent combination with the former Rabbitohs flyer.
"Dylan's the only genuine right side centre we've got at the club so he's very experienced," Marshall said.
"With Duges there he's given me a few options and a person to hit with the ball and he runs really good lines. I've been doing a little bit of work with Dyl at training and he's very similar.
"He loves a bit of early ball and, like Duges, he's one of those players where you just need to get the ball in his hands ."
After admitted he tried too hard in his first six games for the Dragons, Marshall produced a composed performance against the Storm, playing the steadying hand as Dugan and halves partner Gareth Widdop shone.
Monday's win saw the Dragons draw level with the Cowboys on the ladder and, with a bye the following week, they could find themselves one win outside the eight.
Mata'utia was named in the No 14 jersey, with the late Reg Gasnier's famous No 3 jersey retired for the match.