Raper, speaking yesterday at the unveiling of the revamped WIN Jubilee Stadium, said he couldn't rank the six-time premiership coach above the likes of Ken Kearney, Norm Provan and Ian Walsh, who juggled captain-coach duties while the Dragons won 11 straight titles from 1956 to 1966.

However, Raper - an eight-time grand final winner with the Dragons - said Bennett's influence could help the perennial under-achievers win their first premiership in 30 years after grand final heartbreak in 1985, 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1999.

"I can't rank him above Kearney and the others I played under because of the results we had, but he's certainly changed a lot to do with the play of this particular club," Raper said of Bennett, who guided Brisbane to six premierships in 20 seasons.

"The enthusiasm is back again, the mentality is there and it's a credit to him."

When asked if 2009, Bennett's first year in charge at St George Illawarra, could be the year the Dragons end their premiership suffering, Raper answered simply "they could do the ultimate".

"I'm very excited about this year - all due respect to (former coach) Nathan Brown, he did a good job but we've got to go up the ladder and not decrease our form," Raper said.

"The buying of Wayne Bennett is a terrific attribute to the club. I'd say they have done the right thing."

Raper's sides of the late 1950s and early 1960s dominated under player-coaches, but today's increasingly-competitive era meant Bennett's influence could be the difference between glory and despair for the Dragons.

"Those sides that aren't going to give 100 per cent to the coach are going to be beaten, no doubt about that," Raper said. "It's up to these players to give him 100 per cent or 110 per cent - that's what Wayne would want each game."

Raper, who played 185 games in the famous Red V, said Bennett has lived up to his preseason promise to ensure the Dragons don't have a soft underbelly this year.

"I've been impressed so far, I like the attitude, they're never beaten," he said.

Raper, whose final year with St George was in 1969, believes respect is Bennett's biggest weapon.

"His success speaks for itself. He seems to have great respect everywhere he goes," Raper said.