Dugan named at five-eighth for Raiders

29 May 2012, 6:49 pm   -   Source: AAP

Canberra coach David Furner has named Josh Dugan at five-eighth for the struggling Raiders' in their NRL clash with Wests Tigers.

Struggling Canberra coach David Furner has taken the bold step of selecting star fullback Josh Dugan at five-eighth in a bid to end the Raiders' wretched run of NRL form.

Furner's side have lost four of their past five games, and were forced to do without Dugan and Blake Ferguson for last Friday's heavy defeat by South Sydney, due to disciplinary measures.

And in a bid to arrest the alarming slump, which has seen the side's only recent win come against a Parramatta outfit that's lost 10 of its 11 games, Dugan has been moved to the halves for Saturday's meeting with in-form Wests Tigers.

"Josh can handle the role in combination with Josh McCrone, he's played there as a junior," Furner said.

"These circumstances now are that we need to be more solid in defence and Josh gives us that."

Young halfback Sam Williams has been dumped to NSW Cup with Ferguson restored to the side in the centres.

Reece Robinson keeps his spot at fullback.

Furner refused to say if Dugan's switch to five-eighth would be a long-term one, but the NSW star said he was not surprised by the decision.

"I thought it was a bit of a long time coming," he said.

"I trained there a bit in pre-season and when Terry Campese got injured I thought then I'd be a good chance of having a crack at it."

Manly welcome back Kieran Foran from an ankle injury for the visit of St George Illawarra to Brookvale Oval.

The New Zealand international rolled his ankle in the win against Sydney Roosters in round 11, but Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey is confident the five-eighth will face the Dragons.

"We're hoping he'll be fine, he was close last week but we didn't want to risk him," Toovey said.

But the premiers will be without Steve Matai who will serve the first game of a two-match suspension after pleading guilty to a grade four dangerous contact charge on Tuesday.

Parramatta coach Stephen Kearney has recalled Ben Roberts from reserve grade to replace the injured Casey McGuire, who is out for the year with a torn pectoral muscle.

Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett has axed Matt Hilder and Zeb Taia for Sunday's trip to Brisbane.

The Knights have lost three successive matches and Bennett could name Dane Gagai to face his former team following his switch from the Broncos this week.

The outside back has not been named in the Knights' reserve grade side, so could travel to Suncorp Stadium and potentially be a late inclusion for the Knights.

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