They were the NRL's powderpuffs - too small, too soft, too brittle through the middle.

It was a perception shared by many and voiced by some, none more famously than a mic'd up Willie Mason who - in front of a national television audience - levelled his now infamous "you need some front-rowers, ya' cats," sledge at the Dragons pack in round 26 last year.

It may have been warranted at the time but a look at the line-ups from the weekend's rep matches reveals a dramatic turnaround for the most maligned front six in the competition.

While Mike Cooper enjoyed a well-earned rest, every other member of the Dragons starting forward pack pulled on a rep jersey over the weekend. Trent Merrin made his long-awaited Test debut in the the Kangaroos' 26-12 loss to New Zealand in Brisbane while Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson and Mitch Rein all played for Country in a 34-22 victory over City on Sunday. Leeson Ah Mau played his 10th Test for Samoa in a thrilling 18-16 win over Tonga on the Gold Coast on Saturday. On form, Cooper would have been one of the first players picked had England been playing.

The honours come hot on the heels of perhaps their best win in a number of seasons against the Roosters on Anzac Day.

Despite entering the match on the back of five straight wins, many felt the Dragons would finally be exposed by a Roosters outfit that have built their recent success on the back of bullying their rivals upfront. The Dragons' big men answered again, laying the platform for a gritty 14-12 Anzac Day victory in some of the worst conditions ever seen in an NRL match. The fact they will almost certainly start favourites against defending premiers South Sydney on Monday shows how far their stocks have risen.

Asked if the win over the Roosters proved the rejuvenated Dragons pack was the real deal Merrin said: "One hundred per cent. It was a bashathon out there and we found a second level. I get excited when I look in the boys' eyes and I can see they're just as geed up as me and that they're on top of their game. I don't think anyone's looking for short cuts or the easy option. We know that every game we get into it's going to be a grind and going to be a tough effort. We're really building something here and it's a great feeling at the moment."

Thompson made a strong return to the rep arena after a three-year absence on Sunday on the back of the form reversal. He offered a wry smile when asked about the turnaround.

"One minute they're writing you off, tipping you to be bottom of the table, the next minute they're giving you a rap. That's just the way rugby league goes.

"It hasn't been a surprise to us. We've always had the players there we just had to put what we were training and talking about out on the paddock and now we're starting to get a few wins."