When the opportunity to join the club he supported as a child beckoned, Matt Groat's decision was a simple one.

Meeting the same players which he had idolised as a child? Well, that was a little harder.

"I had coffee with [Matt] Cooper and [Jason] Ryles [on Thursday] and I was a bit star-struck," Groat laughed.

"They're great guys.

"I remember running around watching Cooper, Ryles, [Mark] Gasnier ... I just looked up to them.

"I've always been a huge Dragons fan. My whole family loved the club and I've always loved the club. They've given me a good opportunity and I've taken it."

If Dragons coach Steve Price wanted any references before tabling a one-year offer to Groat, he needn't have looked far.

The 21-year-old is counted among the alumni from famed rugby league nursery St Gregory's College Campbelltown, which includes new teammates Jack Stockwell, Jack de Belin and Sam Williams.

Like Stockwell and de Belin before him, Groat eyes a chance to become a fully-fledged NRL player after three injury-riddled years at the Tigers.

"They were pretty confident in me coming," Groat said. "Stocky and I have been in all sorts of rep teams [at the same time] and we've always camped together and been good mates.

"We had a pretty good school side, too."

On a self-described strict diet which is "stripping" weight from his imposing frame, Groat revealed he had an opportunity to remain with the Tigers beyond 2013.

Having made his first-grade debut at 19, a string of injuries has consigned the Griffith product to just 17 NRL games.

He didn't feature in any top-grade match for Mick Potter's Tigers last season despite starring in the NSW Cup.

"There was an opportunity to stay there, but I thought the Dragons was a better option," he said. "I took it and ran with it.

"The boys have all welcomed me with open arms and they've been a real good bunch of blokes. The coaching staff have been good ... tough but fair.

"I just want to get in there and be a vital part of this club and do what I can. Hopefully, I'll play a few games and be a player everyone wants to play with."