The Bulldogs' gritty victory over South Sydney on Monday night handed the Dragons top position on the NRL ladder - albeit on points differential - for the first time in the joint venture club's 10-year existence.

The club has previously shared top spot, finishing joint minor premiers with the star-studded line-up of 2005, but finished second to Parramatta.

Star prop Justin Poore was unaware of the feat yesterday but was quick to play down the significance of the Dragons' early-season surge.

"Really? I didn't know that (was a first)," he said at WIN Stadium yesterday.

"It's good - we're going all right.

"But what a lot of people have got to understand is it's only round five.

"Just because we've won four games doesn't mean anything."

After St George and Illawarra merged in 1999, the only time the Dragons have had a share of the competition lead during the season was in round 25 and 26 of 2005.

But the club has never held the No 1 rung before.

Poore, who overcame a broken hand to return for the Dragons' 22-8 victory against Parramatta, was king of the kids yesterday during a holiday clinic conducted by the club and the Australian Rugby League.

With his focus turning towards Saturday's clash with Newcastle at Kogarah's WIN Jubilee Oval, the 24-year-old said the injury was continuing to improve after spending four weeks on the sideline.

"It's not too bad - it pulled up a little sore, but nothing a bit of ice can't fix," he said.

"One of those annoying things; it's always going to pull up a little sore.

"It's just more of an annoyance."

Bennett came to the club vowing to create a new tough culture after years of slow starts to seasons under Nathan Brown.

The master coach has delivered in spades, with the Dragons conceding just 53 points at an average of 10.6 points per game.

Their plus-36 differential puts St George Illawarra ahead of the Gold Coast (+32) and Brisbane (+10) on the ladder, both of which the Dragons have already beaten this season.

"All the boys are putting in and we're playing as a team," Poore said.

"We're toughing out the hard games.

"We're just trying to bring some consistency together and not lose six and win six.

"If we do ever lose one we just want to bounce back straight away."