Set to shadow new recruit Gerard Beale (Brisbane) for the No 1 role in the early rounds, Cummins, 19, said he was relishing the transition to the full-time squad.

"I love it - this is where I want to be," said Cummins, a member of last year's National Youth Competition Team of the Year.

"I've only done one pre-season but this has by far been the toughest. Pricey has been emphasising working more and bettering ourselves each session.

"All I want to do is keep working hard and improve my game each week.

"If I get the chance, I'd love to take it with both hands. I'll work hard and as soon as Pricey gives me the OK, I'll be sure to rip in."

Cummins, who has represented the NSW under-20s State Of Origin team, cut swathes through opposition NYC defences last season.

So rapid was his development he was plunged into the Illawarra Cutters' NSW Cup side, where his try-scoring heroics continued unabated.

He said his graduation into the full-time ranks had been made easier with a slew of ex-Dragons under-20s players joining him in the pre-season.

"It's good having a lot more younger boys around - you can just relate to them a bit more," he said.

"We can have a bit of fun together outside of footy as well as inside footy."

Cummins joined representative prop Michael Weyman and fringe first-grader Leeson Ah Mau at Mount Terry Public School yesterday to spread the anti-bullying message.

As part of the NRL's One Community Carnival, the players not involved in the North Queensland trial visited several Illawarra schools to tell about their own experiences with bullying.