St George Illawarra captain Ben Creagh has been ruled out for at least a month with fractures in his lower back.

The Dragons forward suffered the injury during their 12-4 NRL loss to Melbourne on Monday night and scans showed the fractures were more serious than first thought by medical staff.

“Ben sustained three transverse process fractures in his back which is a significant injury and he will be out for at least four to six weeks,” said Dragons physiotherapist Dan Lawson.

“The amount of pain that he would have been experiencing on the field would have been significant and for him to stay out there and play the game the way that he did was a real testament to his character.”

Meanwhile, fullback Josh Dugan is still no certainty to face the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium on Monday night due to an ankle injury picked up against the Storm.