Bulldogs, Dragons brace for Origin drain - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Bulldogs, Dragons brace for Origin drain

David Beniuk 12/05/2011 07:41:31 PM Comments (0)

As high-flying Friday night combatants Canterbury and St George Illawarra brace themselves for a State of Origin drain, Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore says the modern player takes pride in backing up for his club.

The Bulldogs and Dragons are certain to lose a host of big names when the NSW and Queensland teams are read out after this weekend, but Moore is confident the Dogs can manage.

Bulldogs stars Jamal Idris, Josh Morris, Michael Ennis and Aiden Tolman are all Blues possibilities.

"We just play it as we go," Moore told reporters on Thursday ahead of the ANZ Stadium showdown with the Dragons. "It depends on the individual.

"A lot of the top players in the game have a lot of pride in backing up these days.

"I think you leave it up to the individual and if they're a hundred per cent fit and they're really keen to back up after an Origin game I can't see any reason why you shouldn't do that."

Origin has traditionally hit Brisbane the hardest.

"You've seen in the past ... when they've had eight or nine blokes who've played and it's made a fairly big impact for them," Moore said.

"I don't see that to be the case with us.

"We'll have a couple of blokes in, maybe three or four, but I think that the majority of those blokes that will get picked are really thorough professionals and a couple of them are pretty young too, so I don't see a problem with backing up."

The Dragons, who have up to 10 players who could be considered for Origin, will need all of coach Wayne Bennett's Broncos experience to keep their premiership defence on the rails over the next two months.

"It's not a burden," said lock Matt Prior.

"It's a tough time because you're missing a few of your key players but it's just the way it goes.

"We do know the blokes who are going to be filling in are going to do the job."

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