St George Illawarra Dragons

Tigers and Storm claim NRL wins

The hosts made a flying start when Mikaele Ravalawa was awarded a penalty try in the second minute – Corey Thompson shoving the Fijian to the floor as he was about to ground an in-goal kick at the end of a 70-metre run.

David Nofoaluma grabbed a clever kick from the inspired Benji Marshall, who booted eight points, to level matters but Zac Lomax went over and added his own extras to ensure the Dragons led 12-8 at the break.

Trent Merrin returns to Dragons

Merrin, 30, spent this year with the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League, but is back with the club he started his career at in 2009.

The former Australia and New South Wales representative played 133 NRL games for the Dragons, including the 2010 Grand Final win, before joining the Penrith Panthers in 2016.

Merrin replaces Luciano Leilua, who was released from the final year of his contract, in the Dragons squad.

McGregor non-plussed with tactics used by Warriors

The Warriors defeated the Dragons 20-12 in Auckland on Friday night, despite finishing on the wrong end of a 13-5 penalty count.

Many of the penalties conceded by the Warriors came while the now joint premiership leaders were defending their own line.

While admitting the Warriors were the better side on the night, McGregor said the constant "stop-start-nature" of the match hindered the Dragons' ability to play with any fluidity.

Cody Walker goes from hero to zero in rollercoaster finish to Rabbitohs v Dragons clash

With the Dragons in cruise control late in the second half, Walker was the catalyst for a thrilling finish when he burst into life with two incredible plays to narrow the gap to four points with five minutes left on the clock.

With his halves partner Adam Reynolds off the field for a concussion test, Walker took on the responsibility to get his side back into the game, scoring a magical solo try with eight minutes to play.

Sims ready to reclaim starting role

The former Cowboys and Knights forward also reckons he's putting up the best numbers of his career in the gym and gotten on top of the rehab required for his twice-broken left leg.

Sims started four matches at the end of 2017 played a full 80 minutes in three of those, having started just three of 20 games in 2017 (and one of eight in 2016) prior to that.

"Last year was one of those years where my role in the team was to come off the bench which was never that easy too because I've played so many games starting," Sims told NRL.com.

The damning statistics Dragons aiming to avoid

After years of barnstorming finishes for the Dragons to scrape into the finals, Wayne Bennett put the focus on starting well during his three-year reign and they have continued that under Paul McGregor.

However, after winning six of their first seven matches last season, they lost seven of their next 10 to fall frustratingly short of a play-off berth.

The season before they won eight of the first 15 matches but managed just two more victories, while in 2015 they started with eight wins from their first 11 before losing seven in a row.

Dragons remember Ottio

The jersey was passed on from Dragons and PNG LNG Kumuls winger, Nene Macdonald to coach, Michael Marum who gave it to Joyce right after today’s funeral.

He said the club were shocked to hear of Kato’s passing and their thoughts and prayers are with the Ottio family in this time.

Lafai feeling responsibility to lift Dragons

Lafai's own personal form in 2017 started in a blistering pace, but along with the rest of Paul McGregor's men he has been inconsistent at the backend of the season. 

The former Bulldog put pen to paper on a new three-year deal with the Dragons in June and denied as a result he's taken the foot off the gas and become too comfortable. 

"It's a domino effect, if one player is off the rest can follow," Lafai told NRL.com.

"We got off to a great start along with myself but feel as though we've lost our way as a whole team.

Widdop stars in high-scoring Dragons comeback

Dragons players were booed off by the 10,174-strong crowd at half time after disintegrating from an early 10-nil lead to trail 28-10 at the break in the face of a determined and free-flowing Knights assault.

Dragons best footy still to come: McGregor

While happy with the victory, the 16-12 result featured some poor handling and execution from both teams and McGregor blamed a bit of rustiness coming off the bye while having three players off in Origin camp during the lead-up.