Canberra coach David Furner says he’s giving his squad a chance at redemption after their demoralising 38-26 loss to Gold Coast, having named an unchanged line-up for Sunday’s NRL clash with Cronulla.
But he also hasn’t ruled out welcoming back Raiders star fullback Josh Dugan if he gets through the week’s training unscathed.
The fullback-turned-playmaker has been out for the past three weeks after injuring his ankle against North Queensland in round 16 and was optimistically scheduled to return for this week’s away battle with the Sharks.
But Furner said on Tuesday Dugan still needs to prove his fitness.
“He starts full training tomorrow, so I’m not going to make any decision on Duges until he completes two or three training sessions,” he said.
“He’s had no contact as such, so tomorrow and Thursday will be a test.”
A lingering headache looms if Dugan does pulls through, given the solid performances of Reece Robinson at fullback and also Sam Williams in Dugan’s makeshift spot at five-eighth this season.
Furner conceded it would be a tough decision, with the injured Terry Campese tentatively backing Williams in the role.
“Sammy’s been doing a great job there,” said Campese, whose recovery from a left knee reconstruction in April is tracking ahead of schedule.
“People forget pretty quickly how the team performed against Melbourne (with a 40-12 victory) and it was one of the greatest games I’ve seen in a while.
“Hopefully Furnsey gives them all another shot.”
Furner said he was keeping his options open should Dugan be available for the Cronulla game, but would be keeping those ideas to himself.
Injuries still have the Raiders at a disadvantage in the last push to the finals, with forwards Dane Tilse (ribs), Trevor Thurling (shoulder), Glen Buttriss (sternum) and Bronson Harrison (back) all still waiting it out on the sidelines.
The Raiders’ defence was sorely in need of some power up front against the Titans, with even reliable skipper David Shillington on the receiving end of a Furner spray when Canberra took to the sheds at halftime trailing 22-4.
They’ll be eager to atone when they head to Sydney on Sunday, with Furner and the players still confident of a top-eight finish.
“We’re a bit light on troops, but I still think it’s a good side and we’ve got to prove that not only to ourselves, but to the people around us,” Furner said.
Canberra have at the very least, one believer, with Canberra-based property manager Defence Housing Australia signing onto the Raiders as a sleeve sponsor for the next two seasons, starting 2013.
