Duo hurt in blow to Blues
NSW’S hopes of winning the Origin decider took a hit last night with Blues duo Tyson Frizell and Josh Dugan suffering fresh injuries in the Dragons’ shock 20- 10 loss to the Titans.
Dynamic Dragons backrower Frizell ( back) and danger man Dugan ( corked leg) both failed to finish the game in a double injury blow that has ramifications for NSW’s stocks for Origin III on Wednesday week.
The NSW side for game three at Suncorp Stadium is named Monday, but Frizell and Dugan will both face medical checks as the Dragons were left to rue a night of pain at Cbus Super Stadium.
Frizell, who carried rib and ankle injuries into the Titans clash, left the field in the 45th minute with a back complaint, while Dugan hobbled off eight minutes later with a lower- leg concern.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor said it was too early to tell if the key NSW duo would be on deck for the Blues’ shot at Origin glory in the Suncorp decider.
“I don’t know, they still have 10 days, but I’m more worried about our club and the players themselves rather than rep footy,” McGregor said.
“We lost ‘ Friz’ and ‘ Duges’ through the game, Friz had an ankle and a rib injury and now he’s got another one.
“Duges had a cork and got another knock on that and the young kid on debut ( boom prop Blake Lawrie) got knocked out.
“It’s a different injury for Friz, it’s his mid- back. He was able to come back on but was limping out there so to put him back on wasn’t the right thing to do for his welfare.
“We’re pretty busted at the moment ... we only finished with one on the bench.”
Before 13,140 fans at Robina, Dugan’s Origin centre cohort Jarryd Hayne produced his second straight masterclass, setting up two tries as winger Anthony Don stunned the Red V with a hat- trick.
It was a disappointing display by the Dragons, who trailed 10- 4 at halftime and rarely looked likely in attack as halves Gareth Widdop and Kurt Mann struggled.
After starting the season in red- hot form, the Dragons could finish the weekend in seventh place and have been plunged into a desperate battle for finals berths.