A training mishap on Friday has seen St George Illawarra’s Josh Dugan ruled out of Wednesday night’s first State of Origin clash – joining Dragons teammate Tyson Frizell on the sideline.
The Dragons pair were named in Laurie Daley’s original 19-man squad last week only for Frizell to be released from the final 17.
But St George Illawarra fans who had been keen to see two of their stars on the representative stage will now have to wait until game two at the earliest after Dugan ruled himself out on Sunday morning.
Dugan aggravated an elbow injury during training on Friday. The 25-year-old had carried the injury, suffered against South Sydney a fortnight ago, into camp but had convinced the NSW medical staff he would be fit for Wednesday night.
Dugan told The Leader last Monday that he had been confident of playing despite the injury.
“I actually thought I broke my arm,” he said.
"I was in a fair bit of pain. Even after the game once the adrenaline wore off my whole arm was shaking.
“I was sort of in panic mode. But the scans came back positive.
“It’s a little bit sore. I think there was a bit of bone bruising in the joint as well so that’s probably the only thing that’s going to annoy me. I’ve played with worse so it’s just about doing what I have to do.
“As far as I know I’m good to go.”
Daley told Fairfax Media that Dugan had made a courageous decision to put the team before himself.
“He just came and saw me this morning and said he doesn't believe he will be right," Daley said on Sunday afternoon.
"He has put the team first, he has made the courageous decision. So we have decided he will miss game one. We knew he would be right but speaking to him this morning he said he got a bit of a knock on it towards the end of training. He wasn't worried about it at all.
"Then overnight it blew up. He woke up this morning and he had lost a bit of range of movement. He said he wasn't confident that he would be right to go on Wednesday. So we made the decision. He said 'I just don't feel confident'."
Dugan's omission is a blow for Daley who had been keen to find a place in the side for the powerful outside back.
"He has been one of our best players for the past couple of years," Daley said of Dugan.
"I think he has played six Origins and probably got four players' player. He is a guy that is built for this stage but unfortunately he is not there.”
Canterbury’s Josh Morris will replace Dugan.
