Josh Dugan has revealed he feared his State Of Origin series was over before it had even began due to a broken arm.

Dugan has been selected at right centre by coach Laurie Daley for game one in Sydney next week. But he almost didn’t make it after Souths’ Paul Carter landed awkwardly on his arm in the Rabbitohs’ win over St George Illawarra on Thursday.

Dugan suffered a hyper extension of his elbow but at the time, and even later, thought it could have been far worse and put an end to his chance of playing Origin this year.

“I actually thought I had broken my arm,” Dugan said.

“I was in a fair bit of pain and even after the game once the adrenalin wore off my whole arm was shaking and I was in panic mode.

“Thankfully the scans came back positive so for me. So now it is about doing the right things: the icing and the physio to get the swelling down.”

Josh Morris has been named as cover for Dugan in an extended Blues squad. But the Dragons star is confident he will take the field at ANZ Stadium on June 1.

“As far as I am concerned I will be there,” Dugan said.

“It is a bit painful and there is a bit of bone bruising in the joint, that is the only thing that is going to annoy me for a little bit.

“But I have played with worse and it is just about doing what I have to do to be out there next Wednesday.”