Nabuli was always going to feel at home in the format having grown up playing rugby sevens in Suva but the 26-year-old exceeded expectations, proving one of the players of the tournament with several highlight reel moments despite the Dragons failure to reach the finals.

Nabuli scored the first of his three tries for the tournament in the Dragons opening loss to the Knights before playing a key role in a tight victory over the Sea Eagles in the second pool match.

He showed blistering pace to set up the Dragons first try to Josh Dugan and reeled in a Benji Marshall bullet pass and tip-toed down the sideline to score the match-winner with under two minutes on the clock.

The try denied the Sea Eagles what would have been a remarkable comeback after trailing 19-4 only to take lead at 21-19 before Nabuli's late heroics.

Nabuli was at it again on Sunday in the Dragons come from behind 12-10 victory over Parramatta streaking away down the sideline in the dying stages and producing a miracle round-the-corner ball for Marshall to score and the steal the victory.

"He's a pretty good find for us," fullback Josh Dugan said.

"He played well last year in the Nines and to have him out there on our side finishing off those tries was awesome."

The 13-a-side game is a different beast and the best indication of who has the inside running for an NRL berth will come when Paul McGregor names his side for Saturday's Charity Shield but Nabuli would have to now be the front-runner for round one.

If Nabuli was the Dragons standout player, Marshall was a close second showing all the benefits of a full preseason after joining the club mid-season last year.

The former Kiwi Test captain will turn 30 in February but showed he zip of a teenager in planting the match-winning try against the Eels and laying on several others throughout the tournament.

The Rangitoto pool proved the most competitive with all four sides finishing four points but the Dragons -5 deferential cost them a spot in the finals. Marshall said a poor first up effort against Newcastle - where three tries came from the boot of Jarrod Mullen - ultimately cost his side.