Daley holds hope for Dugan's cheekbone

Josh Dugan will miss three weeks for St George Illawarra with a cheekbone injury, but is still a chance to play the State of Origin opener for NSW.

Josh Dugan of the Kangaroos

Injured Dragons star Josh Dugan is a chance to play the opening State of Origin for NSW. (AAP)

Laurie Daley will speak with incumbent NSW Origin centre Josh Dugan on Monday, as he races the clock to be fit to play the series opener on May 31.

Dugan has been ruled out for three weeks with a fractured cheekbone sustained in Australia's Test win on Friday night, and will have minor surgery later this week.

That will leave him unavailable to play a game before the NSW Origin side is named, and could rule him out of the early stages of full contact in training.

"I texted Duges, we will catch up tomorrow," Daley told Channel Nine.

"I'm not quite sure whether it will be too serious, any time you hurt a cheek bone you take it seriously but I hear it's not as bad as first thought which is good for him."

Dugan's injury could open the door for Cronulla centre Jack Bird to come into the starting side in his place, if he was ruled out.

Bird came off the bench as in impact utility in the last two games of last year's series, but is best suited in the centres.

It could also give Matt Moylan a chance to re-find his way into the NSW side on the bench, given he has not played in the halves since last year's third game.

It is however unlikely he would unseat James Tedesco from the No.1 jersey, or even a possible returning Jarryd Hayne if Daley was to look that way.

Moylan was solid without being spectacular at fullback for City in their 20-10 win over Country in Mudgee on Sunday, however he did impress coach Brad Fittler.

"I thought he was great," Fittler said.

"Like he did in the last Origin he was a danger every time he touched the ball.

"He was safe, caught a couple of bombs. I thought he played really well."

The Blues other Origin bolters were also solid, with James Tamou pressing his claims to retain his front row jersey.

He ran 177 metres and busted through four tackles - including two on the way to the match-defining 49th minute try.

Opposition prop Paul Vaughan also looked at home in the representative fixture, topping 130 metres as he carried the Country front row.

"I thought he played pretty strong," Country coach Craig Fitzgibbon said.

"He carried the ball well - it was a tough game for a front-rower in the middle."

City's Cameron McInnes also won the battle of the hookers, breaking the line once and making 35 tackles - although it seems unlikely he'll be selected ahead of Robbie Farah at No.9.


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Source: AAP



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