Cameron McInnes expected to take over as Dragons captain following Gareth Widdop’s injury

Dragons hooker Cameron McInnes is ready to take on the St George Illawarra captaincy following a potentially season-ending injury to Gareth Widdop.

Round 1 game of the NRL Telstra Premiership between the North Queensland Cowboys v St George Illawarra Dragons from 1300 Smiles Stadium, Townsville. Dragpons Cameron McInnes. Picture: Zak Simmonds

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St George Illawarra hooker Cameron McInnes is ready to take on the captaincy in the absence of Gareth Widdop.

The Dragons are on the lookout for a new skipper with fears Widdop has played his final game for the club.

Widdop will find out how serious his shoulder injury is Monday but the 30-year-old is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the season after dislocating his shoulder in St George Illawarra’s one point win against Brisbane on Thursday.

McInnes is expected to take over as Dragons captain.. Picture by Zak Simmonds.

McInnes and Widdop are joined in the Dragons leadership group by the injured Tyson Frizell and veteran James Graham.

With Frizell expected to miss at least one more game because of a ruptured testicle, McInnes is in line to captain the side against Newcastle on Sunday.

McInnes and Frizell shared the role in Widdop’s absence last year.

“If I’m made the captain that’s great,” McInnes said. “(Graham) inspires all of us.

“Regardless of who has the C next to their name, Jamma (Graham) is such a great leader.

“My job is to lead with actions and make sure I’m playing the way the team needs me to play.

McInnes is one of the toughest players at the club. Picture by Zak Simmonds.

“I will try and lead by actions. Any NRL club it is a great honour to be captain of but especially a club with as rich of history as St George. I would be very humbled and honoured to get that.”

McInnes has been long touted as an NRL skipper. He led South Sydney’s under-20s team for two seasons and also captained the Junior Kangaroos. Former Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire told The Daily Telegraph in 2015 that he considered McInnes a future leader.

“I was a captain coming through,” McInnes said. “It’s a role I’ve been comfortable with. I’m quite vocal. If I get that role I’ll be comfortable with it. But nothing really changes”

Originally published as Cameron McInnes expected to take over as Dragons captain following Gareth Widdop’s injury