He didn't listen to critics who predicted his side would claim the wooden spoon so Dragons halfback Benji Marshall isn't about to listen to those who still question whether they're the real deal.
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The Dragons are on a five-game winning streak and sitting comfortably in second place with the competition's best defensive record heading into their Anzac Day clash with the Roosters.
The Roosters are teetering on the edge of the top eight after three straight losses but will still start favourites in the blockbuster clash as people still question the Dragons' top-four credentials.
That's fine by Marshall.
"I actually enjoy that, being the underdog and still having a bit to prove," Marshall said.
"The good thing is people are still not convinced we're the real deal and no one's really talking us up that much.
"We've still got so much to improve on and we've set ourselves a benchmark that we can't go backwards on but there are things we need to get better at.
"There's definitely places we can improve but the good thing is we're winning games off the back of our defence and still finding ways to win when we probably didn't have a right to."
Marshall is also refusing to let rumours of a rift between himself and halves partner Gareth Widdop derail their relationship.
"It doesn't bother us," he said.
"We're pretty tight on and off the field so whatever people say we don't really care. It's different [to last year] when you've got halves playing both sides of the field.
"Last year he was taking most of the attack and doing everything and you probably get noticed more like that. Now, when it's open, we just go either way. We're in the same boat, there's things we both want to get better at ... and it's coming."
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has put the onus on his halves, Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney, to fire in tandem this week. The Dragons' prospect to handing the premiership favourites their fourth straight loss rest on Marshall and Widdop doing the same.
Widdop produced a season best performance against Brisbane last week after Marshall was made a virtual passenger after apoke in the eye left him with double vision. Marshall said the performance signalled his partner is starting to hit his stride.
"It was great for Gareth and his confidence," Marshall said.
"I told him 'I can't see so I'll call the plays and we'll shift everything your way, I'll just be a decoy on the short side and you just take over' and he did that. He turned the momentum of the game around and put us on the front foot before half-time. It's one of the big factors in why we won."
