‘‘From a medical point of view, we’ll also assess Ben Hornby during the week with his thigh strain and also Dean Young.’’

The Dragons conducted one of the more extensive recruitment programs over the off-season, adding Vea, Will Matthews (Titans), Jeremy Latimore (Warriors), Leeson Ah Mau (Cowboys) and Ray Cashmere (due to play NSW Cup) to their forwards line-up.

Vea, who can play out of second row or lock, is no stranger to knee problems, missing a handful of games during his final year at the Melbourne Storm for the same reason.

Price said the club’s medical staff would monitor Vea continually in the coming days.

The rookie coach took some strong positives out of the side’s first real hitout despite a flutter of early tries from the Cowboys

en route to an 18-0 lead after 20 minutes.

‘‘Our main focus was to put in a good performance and I think 60 minutes of the game, there were some really good signs there,’’ Price said.

‘‘It’s just going to take time - we created enough opportunities to score some more tries there, but it wasn’t to be.

‘‘There was a lot of new combinations, a lot of new faces, and you expect that.’’

The Dragons vastly improved in the final three quarters, with winger Brett Morris crossing for a converted try in the second quarter to make it 18-6.

Jake Marketo scored a late consolation try, and following a successful conversion from aspiring hooker Cameron King, the gap was six points.

‘‘There were some very positive signs there and we’ll get back to Sydney now, reassess and get ready for the Charity Shield next week,’’ Price said.

With no reported injuries, Cowboys prop Ashton Sims is the worst of the team’s worries after being placed on report following a fight erupted late in the second half.