Josh Dugan insists he is back to full fitness and is ready to bounce back for NSW after a quiet State of Origin series opener.
Dugan returned at right centre in the Blues' 28-4 win over Queensland, less than a month after fracturing his cheekbone in Australia's mid-year Test.
And while he still managed 115 metres, both he and winger Blake Ferguson were well contained as they failed to break the Maroons' line.
"I was a bit underdone," Dugan said.
"You don't realise how quick Origin is until you're back there. For me, my first game back was Origin. My first 20 minutes or so, I was pretty gassed.
"I ended up playing half decent and, hopefully, I will be a lot better this game."
Dugan's cheekbone injury continued a stuttered start to the year for the St George Illawarra fullback.
He also missed two games in April with a hamstring injury, struggling to find consistent time on the park.
However, he has since strung together back-to-back games for the Dragons after the Origin win.
Dugan said this had left him in good stead to help NSW claim the series next week at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
"I'm feeling fine now," he said. "I've got three games under my belt now and I'm finally getting my match fitness back."
Neither Dugan nor Ferguson received the same attacking opportunities on their right edge in game one as their left-edge teammates in Jarryd Hayne and Brett Morris.
But Ferguson said on Wednesday it was never a plan to attack the left edge before the match, and he didn't necessarily believe they would again have limited chances next week.
"It just depends how the game goes," he said.
"We don't go into the game, saying we're going to pass the ball to the left side more - it just happens."
Share
