Dragons centre Dylan Farrell admits his second pectoral tear within four months was an "all-time low" but it was much easier to endure now he's back home.

The 2014 season was a horror year for the luckless 23-year-old, who returned from rupturing his right pectoral muscle in round six only to tear his left one while on the comeback trail with the Illawarra Cutters, ending his season.

Farrell accepts that such injuries are part of rugby league.

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"We started off the year pretty well and I was pretty happy with where I was at in terms of my form and where my body was after the full preseason, so I was disappointed," Farrell said.

"When they told me I'd be back for the season I just worked towards that and I had something to work for. As soon as I did my second one, I didn't know what to think. I hit an all-time low there. I knew I was going to miss the rest of the season and even the start of preseason, but that's the game.

"I understand it's a contact sport and it's something you've got to expect when you play this game."

The year ended with the Dragons leaving the door ajar for him to leave. Having taken the best part of five years to make it back home, Farrell said he wasn't about to walk through it.

"Everybody knew there were some salary cap problems and a few players were given the option to look elsewhere but I definitely wasn't being forced out," he said.

"The manager does his job and looks around but there was nothing ever good enough to leave home and leave this club.

"It was my decision and I chose to stay and I'm happy with that decision."

While it was far from the year he was anticipating on the field, Farrell said the decision to move closer to family on the South Coast definitely paid dividends as he battled the mental demons that come with such a horror injury run.

"If I was to do this last year when I was with Souths in Sydney it would have been a much lonelier place," he said.

"Here I could do my rehab and go home and have that support from my family and friends.

"I've got two years left [with the Dragons] and I've just bought a place here, my daughter starts school next year and this is definitely the happiest I've been as far as home life goes. With football, if I can get the body right I'll be even happier."

For now that includes a mental battle to make it back to top form and cement a place in the centres.

"It's a bit of a weird one to come back from but once you get your head around it, it's OK," he said.

"The medical staff do a great job and don't put you back unless you're ready, so it's all about the mental game there. I've got a whole preseason to get ready, so come round one I'll be right."