Canberra fullback Josh Dugan has played down his chances of making the NSW State of Origin team but admits a big game against Parramatta next Sunday might see him leapfrog Jarryd Hayne and Brett Stewart for the Blues No.1 spot.
Dugan scored a try in Canberra’s 18-12 NRL loss to Manly at Brookvale with Sunday’s loss just his second game back from a shoulder injury.
One of his rivals for the Blues fullback spot, Manly’s Stewart, edged Dugan slightly with a commanding defensive effort.
“I was hot and cold,” Dugan said.
Dugan will come up against Eels No.1 Hayne, who is expected to feature somewhere in NSW coach Ricky Stuart’s team which is announced on Sunday ahead of game one of the series in Melbourne on May 23.
But Dugan said while he’d love to be selected it wasn’t his main priority at the moment.
“It’s not really. I’ve played two games now since I came back and we’ve lost both of them and my main focus is getting that win over Parramatta at home next week,” Dugan said.
“If I get picked and go into camp or whatever … if not, I’ll go into that bye week and get the rest and come back after it.
“You think about Jarryd Hayne … he’s been there for the last four or five weeks playing some pretty good footy in a beaten side for Parramatta.
“Brett Stewart’s played a few games now too and has been in some good form, so I’m a little bit behind the eight ball.
“But if I have a good game next week and I warrant being picked, then I’ll grab it with both hands.”