Josh Dugan knows Blake Ferguson got the same "kick up the bum" he did and he also knows how the sacked Raider can resurrect his NRL career - and it means not being entirely consumed by rugby league.

Having sat ringside for Ferguson's boxing bow on Wednesday night, a four-round defeat to Goulburn excavator Luke Turner, Dugan professed his own more mature outlook since joining the Dragons.

But while a settled Dugan enthused about a leadership role in his first full pre-season with St George Illawarra, Ferguson's rugby league future remains anything but.

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If he does pick up a club and the NRL registers the contract? Dugan stressed Ferguson, recently converted to Islam, needs to find other positive distractions away from rugby league.

"He just needs to find an outlet and get away from footy when he's not there," Dugan told the Mercury. "When he's at footy, focus on that because he's definitely a representative centre of the future.

"He's gone through a lot of stuff in his life and it's been well publicised over the last few months. For him to get in the ring after the criticism he copped and the guts it took ... it showed a lot of courage.

"He's definitely shown that he's come a long way since the troubles he had."

Ferguson still has an indecent assault allegation to deal with before he can conceivably return to the NRL.

His arrest came after a night of drinking with Dugan before NSW's State Of Origin II camp.

The temptation for Dugan to do the same at the Dragons is certainly stifled - and he has no problems with it.

"Everyone's pretty mature and it's definitely made me mature more than what I thought I would," he said of his mid-season switch last year. "I think I'm better for it.

"I just want to be consistent for the Dragons and let my actions speak louder than my words. I think in the last couple of years I've just got by on raw talent and I'm pretty excited to put my best foot forward on and off the field and be the [best] player I can be."

That would certainly be fitting of top billing in a star-studded Dragons backline for 2014, already boasting internationals like Brett Morris, Jason Nightingale and Gareth Widdop.

Not that they won't have to adjust to a significant overhaul of the side's attack and defence, already flagged by coach Steve Price.

"It takes a bit of getting used to, but I think we will be better for it in the long run," Dugan said.

"We've only been together a couple of weeks and you can already notice the difference. I think everyone's pretty excited for next year and the roster we have."

Meanwhile, St George Illawarra will have a stockpile of halves at their disposal in the post Jamie Soward era after signing Michael Witt to a one-year deal yesterday.

The 29-year-old had spent the last two seasons with the London Broncos in the English Super League, but the Dragons have thrown the former Parramatta, Manly and New Zealand halfback an NRL lifeline.

Witt's signing adds further depth to Steve Price's playmaking options, with Canberra recruit Sam Williams already jockeying with Kyle Stanley to partner Widdop in the halves.