Dragons slump to 100-1 NRL title chances - Brisbane Times

AAP

St George Illawarra have slumped to be rank 100-1 outsiders to take out the NRL title, with five-eighth Jamie Soward admitting he's feeling the heat to revive the Dragons' flagging campaign.

One of only two teams - alongside the Warriors - without a win after three rounds, the Dragons on Tuesday slipped to triple-figure odds with bookmakers clearly unimpressed by the side's lacklustre form during the opening month of the season.

While only the most ardent fans would have pencilled the Dragons in for a finals berth, let alone a title ahead of the season, the continued struggles in attack have spread to a defence which is third worst in the competition.

While critics have the blowtorch firmly fixed on coach Steve Price, Soward said he too was under the pump.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't," Soward said of feeling the pressure to lift his performance.

"But I've been around long enough now to know what I need to do to get back into a little bit of form.

"Personally, my confidence is probably a little bit down this week knowing that there's a lot of pressure coming on the six and seven.

"I get the chance this weekend (against Cronulla) just to worry about myself and just get myself ready for the game."

The struggles of Soward and halves partner Nathan Fien have led to speculation the Dragons could offer unwanted Gold Coast playmaker Jordan Rankin a different avenue into the NRL.

The Dragons' pursuit of Rankin, just a week after they launched a bid to lure Canberra bad boy Josh Dugan to the 'Red V', says much about the desperation within the club.

Dugan appears to be closing in on a move to Brisbane ahead of the Dragons, but Soward said application and not personnel was the problem.

"I'm not too fussed about it, to be honest," Soward said of the club's interest in Rankin.

"Jordan's a lovely kid. I've met him once or twice - he seems like a pretty good talent on the field.

"(But) we just bought a young guy called Josh Drinkwater, you've got a World Cup winner in Nathan Fien and I'd like to think of myself as pretty handy.

"It's up to the club to do what they want to do, but I'm pretty happy with the halves stocks we've got here."