Dragons recruit George Rose's big frame is a welcome presence, according to skipper Ben Creagh, even if the man himself may not have enjoyed too much of his first day of preseason training.
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After last enduring preseason in relatively mild climes of Melbourne, Rose sweated it out in the Wollongong heat for the first time on Wednesday.
While the fan favourite brings some much-needed size to the Dragons roster, Creagh believes the club will benefit most from the 2008 premiership-winner's experience.
"He's come up from Melbourne where it's a little bit cooler down there and walked into a beep test this morning, so I'm not sure how happy he is at the moment," Creagh joked.
"I think it's good having a guy like George Rose coming into the side.
"He's played over 140 first grade games, he's played in grand finals, he's played for Manly and Melbourne. A bit of experience is what we need to help guys like myself help the young guys coming through."
Rose wasn't the only large presence at training on Wednesday with fellow giants Rory O'Brien and Rulon Nutira also going through their paces.
The club has also been linked to former Warriors prop Russell Packer - currently serving a jail sentence for assault - in a plan to beef-up their forwards stocks.
Creagh said an injection of size was needed after the Dragons were exposed through the middle against big packs at various stages last season.
"I think it's been highly spoken about," Creagh said.
"At times last year we did struggle against the bigger packs who weighed a fair bit more than us, so it's great that Mary [coach Paul McGregor] has got some big guys in giving them an opportunity.
"They've started training well and hopefully they'll get their opportunity next year to play first grade for us."
The criticism began after the Dragons were mauled at the hands of eventual premiers South Sydney in the 2014 Charity Shield and at one point prompted then coach Steve Price to label his side "soft" following a heavy loss to the Bulldogs in round 10.
While he welcomed the addition of some bigger bodies, Creagh said questions raised about the desire in the Dragons pack during the season was unfair.
"I think it was unwarranted . I don't think attitude has ever been a problem in the forward pack or the side," he said.
"There was a time there, we had seven losses in a row, and I think confidence was down in the forward pack. That doesn't mean guys weren't trying hard, that means guys were struggling on and off the field.
"When Pricey left and Mary took over there was a bit more belief there and in the last 12-to-13 weeks as a team, and the forward pack, in particular. We held our own against sides."