ST GEORGE Illawarra Dragons are second on the NRL competition table after 10 rounds.
A bye next weekend comes at a good time with halves Benji Marshall and Gareth Widdop sustaining minor injuries in Sunday's 32-18 win over Canberra at WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
Halfback Marshall, who scored a try, left the field late in the game, with a plastic bag of ice strapped around his left knee.
Widdop complained of "general soreness" after taking a heavy knock in a tackle.
Five-eighth Widdop scored a try and kicked six goals and he revealed after the game he had carried niggling injuries for several weeks.
The Dragons, Melbourne, Brisbane and North Queensland are level on 14 points, but the Dragons are second on percentages. Melbourne lead the competition on a slightly superior for-and-against record.
Marshall and Widdop are expected to be fine to play for the club's next match, the derby clash against Cronulla Sharks on Sunday, May 31, at 4pm, at Jubilee Oval, Kogarah.
Widdop, Marshall, Tyson Frizell, Jason Nightingale and prop Mike Cooper were all impressive.
The NSW State of Origin team will be announced at lunchtime today.
The opening game against Queensland will be Wednesday, May 27, at ANZ Stadium.
Dragons fullback Josh Dugan and Trent Merrin are expected to be named in a Blues extended 19-man squad to cover injuries and illness. Dugan will be fullback and Merrin will start at lock or on the interchange bench.
The Leader understands that second-rower Tyson Frizell will be named in the 19-man squad.
His back-row partner Joel Thompson is also in the mix.
St George Illawarra Dragons 32 (Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall, Joel Thompson, Euan Aitken, Jason Nightingale tries; Gareth Widdop six goals) d Canberra 18; crowd: 13,102.
Leader player of the match: Gareth Widdop.
