Josh Dugan positive despite injury

CANBERRA'S Josh Dugan is aiming to keep positive despite the likelihood of another serious injury as the Raiders injury woes continue.

CANBERRA five-eighth Josh Dugan is aiming to keep positive despite the likelihood of another serious injury as the Raiders injury woes continue.

The 22-year-old, back playing little over a month after the NRL round three shoulder injury which ruled him out of contention for NSW selection in State of Origin, was stretchered from the field on Saturday after getting his leg caught in a 76th minute tackle.

Second rowers Joel Thompson (broken left hand) and Trevor Thurling (AC joint, shoulder) will also require treatment following a horror road trip to Townsville, where Canberra were punished for first half errors in a 40-18 loss.

Dugan will receive scans on his injured right ankle on Monday in Canberra and the Raiders camp was hoping it was just an ankle sprain rather than a syndesmosis (injury of the ligament between the tibia and fibula) which could keep him out for between four and eight weeks.

"It's too early to tell (how bad it is) but I'm trying to stay optimistic about it and just try and keep the swelling down,'' Dugan said.

The Raiders are already without leaders Terry Campese and Brett White due to season-ending injuries and Dugan said he would be doing all he can to get back on the field as soon as possible.

"We've just got to try and keep our heads up,'' he said.

Coach David Furner was encouraged by his team's second half fight back, where tries to Dugan and Blake Ferguson reduced the margin to 14, but admitted the injuries were taking their toll on the team as he constantly had to reshuffle.

"As for the injuries, it's been tough to keep changing combinations, keep changing the team,'' Furner said.

"No doubt after today's game we've got to rally up. I think the only other advantage is a Monday night game (against St George Illawarra).''

Captain David Shillington said the players were riding high on confidence after last week's victory over Newcastle but had been made to pay for their simple errors.

"The boys were full of confidence and energy going into this game and I was confident we were going to go well but obviously the Cowboys are a much better side than the Knights but I still thought we should have handled them better than we did,'' he said.

Shillington was hoping Dugan's injury was not as bad as first thought as the side looks to improve on its 13th placing on the NRL ladder.

"Hopefully Duges is not out for the rest of the season because I still think we can have a good run in the second half of the season,'' Shillington said.