The St George Illawarra star made his Test debut at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday night and walked out of the ground with his knee in a brace after an awkward collision with bulky New Zealand forward Greg Eastwood in the closing moments.

Dugan's ambition is to feature for the Blues as they attempt to defend their Origin title from last year and there was hope on Sunday night that he will not be ruled out of the first game. Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens said the first indications were that the injury was not serious, certainly not season-ending, and veteran back-rower Luke Lewis had similar hope.

"It's a little bit of a worry but we're hearing that it's not too bad and that he might only miss a week so fingers crossed for NSW," Lewis said. "I think he'll be right for playing for the Dragons in two weeks' time and come selection time he'll be right to go. He sort of got flipped over and hyperextended his knee I think which isn't a good feeling but they're pretty confident he'll come through."

Lewis is one of the elder statesmen of the team who may have played his last Test for Australia if there is a move towards generational change the next time the Kangaroos play this time next year.

The Cronulla forward, however, refutes the suggestion that the Australian team is too old after suffering a third consecutive defeat to New Zealand.

"Whatever happens happens. I could be playing my best footy next year," Lewis said. "Everyone has got an opinion about ages and everyone has got an opinion about form but age is just a number to me to be brutally honest and most of the guys here are playing great footy at their clubs.

"I think if they're picking on form  you can't really go wrong ... if you're playing you're  best footy at 36 or playing your best footy at 21."

To make matters worse for NSW, Greg Bird was placed on report for a lift on winger Jason Nightingale in the dying stages.