Josh Dugan has been given until the final hour to prove his fitness for Canberra’s home NRL clash with Cronulla on Sunday – and it seems the wait will prove worthwhile.
Dugan made it through the Raiders’ final training session on Saturday morning, clearing the way for his likely comeback six weeks since tearing the AC joint in his shoulder.
The official decision will be made on game morning.
The injury-depleted Raiders are also due to bring back Shaun Fensom from a a torn bicep suffered in the same round-three loss to Sydney Roosters.
Bolstered by their return, the Raiders will be looking to make a statement in their first game since losing captain Terry Campese to a season-ending knee injury.
Stand-in skipper David Shillington said Canberra had much to prove but must adjust to life without him.
“With Campo’s injury and how we handled it last year, the critics are out there already writing off our season,” he said.
“But there’s still a lot of confidence and self belief in the team.
“And having those two players back is huge and having Campo out, we definitely need it.”
Josh McCrone and Sam Williams are set to renew their partnership in the halves in Campese’s absence, with coach David Furner backing the young recruit’s progress over the past year.
A pre-season trial against Canterbury gave Williams his first understudy appearance this year when Campese pulled out with soreness, but he also filled in during the latter half of 2011 when the captain went down with a long-term groin injury.
“Last year, Sammy Williams had no NRL experience whereas, this year, he’s had something like 16 or 17 games – that puts us in a good spot,” Furner said.
But it will be a tough ask of the new halves combination against the Sharks, who have won their past five games.
“There’d be a great buzz at training and I’m sure they’d be loving life,” Shillington said.
“So we’ll have to stop their enthusiasm early in the game and meet them aggressively in the middle.
“If we can stop their pack going forward and control Todd Carney, then hopefully we can get over them.”
The Raiders are on the hunt for their fourth win of the season.
