RUGBY LEAGUE
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After conquering the State of Origin arena last year with NSW, Josh Dugan admits the pursuit of a green-and-gold jersey is a big motivator.
Australia is due to take on New Zealand in the Trans-Tasman battle on May 1 and coach Tim Sheens will be sweating on the make-up of his backline for the stand-alone Test.
Veteran fullback Billy Slater is sidelined with a shoulder injury, and winger Brett Morris is facing the prospect of missing all representative football this year as he recovers from a torn hamstring.
South Sydney's rookie centre Dylan Walker is also spending time in the stands after undergoing surgery on a broken hand.
Sheens was forced to field one of the youngest and most inexperienced backlines in recent history for the Four Nations campaign in November due to a host of injuries to big-name players post-season.
Greg Inglis played in the No 1 jumper but he was joined at the back by wingers Sione Mata'utia and Josh Mansour, and centres Michael Jennings and Dylan Walker.
Mata'utia, Mansour, and Walker were all on debut, and young Panthers talent Matt Moylan was in the squad but he didn't play a game.
Dugan might have a few players in front of him in the pecking order but he hasn't given up hope of getting a phone call from Sheens.
He admits the thought of playing for Australia has crossed his mind more than once.
"I would love to play for my country, it's been a goal of mine for a while, but injuries have sort of stopped me from being in the squad," Dugan said following another solid performance against Bulldogs on Sunday.
"Billy's the best fullback in the game and GI [Inglis] is there as well.
"I've just got to wait and see, and I've got to keep playing good footy."
Dugan's versatility could work in his favour if Sheens is looking for a utility back for the May 1 Test.
He played much of last season at right centre and it prompted NSW coach Laurie Daley to bring him into the Blues team as they beat Queensland for the first time in nine years.
Daley has as good as anointed Dugan as Jarryd Hayne's replacement to wear the state's No 1 jersey for this year's series, as long as the Dragons star can stay fit between now and May 27.
Dugan has battled an ankle injury since round two, was forced from the ground late in the round five win over Newcastle with suspected concussion, and went to the bench with about 10 minutes left in Sunday's win over Canterbury.
He was carrying a bad limp after the game but said the main reason he left the ground was a knock in the back sustained early in the piece.
"I copped a bit of a knock to my back as well so I played the whole game with that," Dugan said after the Bulldogs game.
"Just a few bumps and bruises, and we had the game [won] with 10 minutes to go so I wasn't complaining about coming off for a bit of a rest."
