Fien ponders extra year in a city he loves

Nathan Fien has added further intrigue to the Dragons' retention jigsaw, claiming he's open to the idea of prolonging his 14-year NRL career for another season once St George Illawarra's coaching future is sorted.

Despite having toyed with the decision of whether to hang up his boots at the end of 2013 since pre-season, the veteran halfback and Penrith-bound five-eighth Jamie Soward have helped steer the Dragons out of the early-season mire.

The World Cup-winning No 7 told the Mercury there was no pressure to continue playing beyond this year given his interests away from the field, but he still felt he had plenty to offer in nurturing the club's young halves.

GALLERY: The Dragons at training this week

"I've been thinking about it over the off-season but I haven't made any decisions," the 33-year-old said when quizzed on his playing future.

"Every time I get an opportunity to wear the Dragons colours I go out there and give it my best. That's all I can do. I'm very confident in my ability and I still think I've got a lot to offer the team.

"If the time comes down the track and we find out who's coaching and that gets settled, then we can see [about my future]. If I'm definitely wanted, I'm available, but at this stage it's really focused on week-in, week-out and this big Anzac clash on Thursday."

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Skipper Ben Creagh, Matt Cooper, Mitch Rein, Michael Weyman, Chase Stanley and Matt Prior are other Dragons yet to confirm their playing future beyond this season.

St George Illawarra have also been linked with several coaches to replace the off-contract Steve Price, who has steeled the Dragons' defence in recent weeks to launch the one-time wooden-spoon favourites back into the top eight.

But the recruitment of Melbourne five-eighth Gareth Widdop to a four-year multimillion-dollar deal has clouded the future of Fien, whose young family is entrenched in Wollongong.

Fien, capped 22 times for his New Zealand, has already spent five-year stints across the Tasman with the Warriors and in far north Queensland with the Cowboys.

"We love it [in Wollongong], but at the end of the day you've got to make decisions for your family and we've done it in the past," Fien said.

"If you have to move away to play footy you do that. I guess outside of football I've got a few other things so the pressure's not there to be playing next year."

That might dash the prospect of playing against long-time partner in crime Soward, who has won the support of team-mates to fire the Dragons back into the finals.

"I personally didn't think I'd see him playing for another club other than the Red V," Fien said.

"That's the way it goes. It's professional footy and the nature of the beast. I wish him well, but for Sowie he's an integral part of what we do here at the club and his kicking game is so important to us. It's probably the best in the comp. We definitely need him firing on all cylinders this year."

Meanwhile, Roosters skipper Anthony Minichiello gave Sonny Bill Williams the green light to overcome a knee complaint that kept him out of New Zealand's loss to Australia in the Anzac Test on Friday night.

The former All Black had been rated only a 50-50 chance earlier in the week to play his first Anzac Day game for the Roosters.

"He's looking pretty good," Minichiello said. "He had a little niggle in his knee, but he's trained over the last couple of days and I think he'll be taking his place in the side."