Paul McGregor and Shane Flanagan can breathe a sigh of relief after all 22 of their players involved in the NRL’s stand-alone representative round came through the weekend unscathed.
But whether they all turn out for St George Illawarra and Cronulla respectively this weekend remains to be seen.
The Dragons face a short turnaround for their clash with Parramatta in Wollongong on Thursday night, while Cronulla face a trip to New Zealand to take on the Warriors on Friday night.
The Dragons provided 12 players to representative football. That included their NSW quartet of Jack de Belin, Paul Vaughan, Tyson Frizell and Tariq Sims who helped NSW end Queensland’s era of State of Origin dominance with an epic 18-14 win on Sunday night.
The Blues held on to secure a first series win since 2014 in game two and only their second since 2005 at ANZ Stadium, with Dragons halfback Ben Hunt unable to continue his magical club form and help Queensland set up a decider.
Cronulla also had 10 players in action over the weekend including their Origin pair with Valentine Holmes again strong on the left wing for Queensland, while Matt Prior became the fourth oldest player to make his State of Origin debut for the Blues. The Sharks prop was strong defensively for NSW.
Dragons captain Gareth Widdop and prop James Graham helped England to a historic 36-18 victory over New Zealand – and club mate Leeson Ah Mau – in the Denver Test match played in the US on Sunday morning (AEST).
Sharks prop Andrew Fifita helped Tonga withstand a second-half Samoa fightback on Saturday night to notch a 38-22 win in an enthralling, 11-try Pacific Test amid a sea of red at Campbelltown Stadium.
Club mate Joseph Paulo and Dragons Tim Lafai and Luciano Leilua turned out for Samoa.
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea dedicated their 26-14 Pacific Test win over Fiji to their late former teammate Kato Ottio in their bruising encounter at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night.
Sharks hooker James Segeyaro captained the victorious Kumuls while Dragons players Joe Lovodua and Pio Sokobalavu played for the Bati.
Cronulla also had five contracted players – Aaron Gray, Blayke Brailey, Kyle Flanagan, Kurt Dillon and Scott Sorensen – help the Intrust Super Premiership NSW Residents team down the Queensland Residents 36-20 as the curtain-raiser for Origin II.
Cronulla-Caringbah trio Corban McGregor, Talesha Quinn and Nita Maynard and Dragons stars Sam Bremner and Kezie Apps also helped NSW beat Queensland 16-10 in the women’s State of Origin match at North Sydney Oval on Friday.