Josh Dugan’s State of Origin series could be over before it begins after he was ruled out for a month due to an elbow injury on Monday.
Dugan aggravated the injury at Blues training on Saturday and was forced out of the side for the Origin opener in Sydney on Wednesday.
It was revealed on Monday the problem will also sideline him for Origin II.
Dugan will have surgery on the injury this week and will not be available again for his NRL outfit St George Illawarra until round 17, the same day, July 4, that Blues coach Laurie Daley will name his side for Origin III.
The NSW centre hyper-extended his left elbow in the Dragons’ loss to South Sydney two weeks ago. Initial scans suggested the injury was not serious and Dugan was considered fit for the Blues for the Origin opener in Sydney on Wednesday.
However Dugan was ruled out of Origin I on Sunday, with Josh Morris drafted in.
Dugan underwent further scans on Monday and Dragons medico Tony Ayoub said the results revealed surgery was required on the troublesome joint.
“Unfortunately, while training with the Blues on Saturday Josh aggravated the injury and his elbow has since become locked due to the fragments that are floating in his joint,” Ayoub said.
“After further scans we believe the best course of action for Josh will be to remove the fragments via an arthroscope.
“This will give him the best opportunity to complete the season without further exacerbating his elbow.
“He will have the surgery immediately and is expected to be sidelined for the next four weeks.”
The Dragons have the bye this weekend. They meet Manly in round 17 at Brookvale Oval.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Death, taxes and the Storm defying pre-season predictions that this year will be the one when they slip down the ladder. Inevitably, seven rounds…
The Melbourne prop cracked up Storm great Cam Smith in his post-game interview as the Nine pundit ribbed him about his nickname.
The Storm wasted their Captain's Challenge in the first four minutes against the Roosters with the Nine team left wondering if they even knew…
Ryan Papenhuyzen was pleading for James Tedesco to be sent for ten. Was the Roosters skipper lucky to stay on the field?
This could've been disastrous for the Storm. Jahrome Hughes looked to have earnt a penalty but the non-call snowballed with Cameron Munster soon sent…
The Roosters coach was up in arms after this try to Eliesa Katoa stood, with Channel Nine's Andrew Johns predicting it was going to…
