Pick Hayne and me: Dugan - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Pick Hayne and me: Dugan

David Beniuk 07/05/2011 02:14:35 PM Comments (0)

Canberra fullback Josh Dugan says he and Jarryd Hayne could be a potent double act for NSW, and has urged NSW coach Ricky Stuart to consider picking both stars.

Dugan and Hayne shared the honours in their individual battle during Friday night's 18-12 win by Country Origin over City, both putting in eye-catching performances in Albury.

The Raiders No.1 was error-free at the back for Country and a constant menace with the ball, while Hayne bagged a second half try.

Hayne's fall from the Test side suggested Friday's clash was a genuine trial between the Blues incumbent and his challenger, but Dugan said they could wreak havoc playing together for NSW if either was selected on the wing.

"Haynesy's such a great player and such a strike weapon so it would be disappointing if one of us got left out," Dugan said.

"You kind of need those strike players in Origin and that's what Origin's all about, those players that can do something out of nothing."

Dugan, who pronounced himself back to his best after a frustrating calf injury, said he would happily switch to the wing, a position Hayne has played at both Origin and Test level.

"As a kid you dream of playing for your state and I could play front row if they picked me there," he said.

"I'd take that jumper and run with it and do everything I could for that team."

Undoubtedly an Origin player in waiting, Dugan, who turns 21 this week, is making it tough for Stuart and selection adviser Bob Fulton to overlook him.

But he would need to oust Hayne, Test winger Brett Morris and another rising star, Newcastle's Akuila Uate who scored the match-winning try in Albury, to gain a starting spot.

Stuart would have come away from Friday night's Test and City-Country clash with some welcome backline selection dilemmas.

Uate and Penrith centre Michael Jennings stepped up in Albury, while on the Gold Coast Kangaroos debutant Jamal Idris successfully made the switch from right to left centre when Greg Inglis was injured.

With Mark Gasnier considered a near certainty to play on the right, Jennings and Idris may have surged ahead of Canterbury's Josh Morris in the race to mark Queensland's Justin Hodges.

Gasnier has also previously switched to the left in representative games.

City coach Brad Fittler singled Jennings out for praise.

"He was good the whole game," Fittler said.

"When the game was there to be won and lost he came in and jammed a couple of blokes in defence and you could see there was a winner there.

"It was great to see him come out of his shell."

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