Young Dragon Josh Drinkwater. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph
DRAGONS coach Steve Price has ruled out rushing rookie playmaker Josh Drinkwater into the Red V No.7 as St George Illawarra search for answers to ignite the club's pop-gun attack.
Aside from posting just three tries in the opening two games of the season, the Dragons must travel to Canberra on Sunday to confront a 13-year hoodoo stretching 10 straight losses back to round 22, 2000.
The last time St George Illawarra won a game in the national capital, John Howard was Prime Minister, Bob Carr was still running NSW and Anthony Mundine had just walked out on the Dragons to pursue a boxing career.
What coach Price wouldn't give for an x-factor playmaker who could generate points like "Choc" used to be able to in his prime right now.
Road trip: Dragons wary of Canberra hoodoo
"As I've said for a number of weeks it's a work in progress. There are a lot of positive signs there," Price said.
"We did create our chances last week even though we scored only six points but I've got all the confidence in the playing group to turn it around and it's a great chance to do that."
The numbers don't lie. The Dragons finished last in terms of points scored last season, averaging 16.9 per game.
On the evidence submitted from the halves combination of Jamie Soward and Nathan Fien in the opening two losses against Melbourne and Brisbane this year, 2013 looks like another hard sell. At 33, Fien is tough and durable and prepared to play whatever role Price needs from him. Soward remains a little more enigmatic.
Fien is a realist and the ultimate professional.
He understands unless the Dragons stop the losing rot and fast, his stay in the No.7 jumper will be short.
"Look, I'm not naive to think if we keep losing I'm going to stay in the No.7," Fien said.
"We've got to perform. It's a tough period that we're going through at the moment but we've just got to focus on getting that first win.
"We still trust everyone in our team to perform their role within our structures and we know if we can put it all together we're going to score points."
Soward is off contract at the end of this year and at a critical point in his career.
He needs to start delivering for St George Illawarra to be any sort of top eight contender. If not, Price's patience may only last so long.
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