In his four years in the English Super League, Dragons hooker Heath L'Estrange never experienced conditions like those that brought a halt to his side's Anzac Day clash with the Roosters.

The Dragons led 10-0 after 26 minutes before torrential rain forced the teams from the field for an unexpected 30-minute interval, halting the Dragons' momentum.

The conditions were far from inviting but, after grafting and grinding their way to six straight victories, L'Estrange said his side feels at home in trying conditions.

"I went to England for four years and we played in snow, sleet and pouring rain but I've never had to come off the field," L'Estrange said.

"That was unbelievable but the way we've been playing ... it's been wet weather footy. It's strong and tough and we grind teams out.

"A soon as it started to rain and we were up 4-0 up we said: 'that's all right with us'. We loved it.

"We've been training so hard over the off-season so for us to be able to play like that.

"If anything does go wrong we're confident in each other's defence and we know that we're going to cover each other, we can go and do what we want with the ball.

"We got a good win in the end and we ground them down which is what we wanted to do."

The win over the Roosters has prompted many to suggest that the Dragons have gone from big improvers to premiership contenders.

They sit second on the ladder and boast the competition's best defensive record. Their 6-2 start to the season is identical to that of the Sea Eagles in 2008, when they went on to win the premiership. L'Estrange played 24 games that year en route to a premiership ring but was quick to assert that the Dragons have a long way to go before they can consider themselves contenders.

"We've still go a long way to go until we prove that we're the real deal," he continued.

"We've got Souths after the break and we're a long way off putting our hands up and saying we are [contenders].

"We'll just keep doing what we're doing."

While the NRL is placed on hold for the representative weekend, the Dragons won't be entirely out of actions with representation in all fixtures.

The majority of the squad will have to cool their heels for a few extra days with their round nine clash against the heavily depleted Rabbitohs a Monday night fixture.

There is an age-old debate regarding the merit of a week off and L'Estrange admitted his side would have preferred to keep playing.

"But it's great to see some of the boys play for their country and also City/Country. For the rest if us we get a bit of a break and we'll be ready to go against Souths."