The 28-year-old laid on three tries and played a key hand in a fourth in a play-making masterclass, looking every bit the dominant half he left Melbourne three years ago to become.

He also slotted three goals to remain the league’s leading point-scorer, a distinction his side also holds after five rounds with the best differential in the competition.

They now sit second on the ladder, behind only undefeated Melbourne, ahead of what’s shaping as an unexpected blockbuster against a resurgent Manly at Brookvale this Saturday.

“I’m comfortable in the role I have to play in this team,” Widdop said.

“I keep saying the forwards are laying a good platform for us and as halves it’s just about playing what you see and I suppose [having] a bit freedom to roam the field. I’m enjoying it and it’s working well for us.

“When you’ve got good go-forward it makes it easier for the backs, for me Josh (McCrone), Duges (Josh Dugan) and we can still improve which is a good sign.

“I’ve got a good bunch of blokes beside me who make it a lot easier. Everyone’s contributing really well at the moment and it’s about consistency and doing it every week, that’s what we’re trying to build out game on.”

It’s the Dragons longest winning streak since round nine 2015, but the win was tempered by what looked like a significant hamstring injury to Dugan, who was left clutching at his leg after scrambling to clean up a grubber kick in the Dragons in-goal in the 58th minute. He will undergo scans on Monday but coach Paul McGregor is resigned to being without his star No. 1 for the clash with Manly. 

“I don’t know how bad it is but he felt it straight away,” McGregor said.

“We’ll just have to gauge that [on Monday] through a scan but he won’t be right next week. He’s in ice in there and he’s in good spirits but it’s obviously disappointing.

“Losing quality players always hurts but there’s some handy players in our squad so we’ll make a replacement there. Obviously Josh Dugan’s Josh Dugan, there aren’t too many players like him around so he’ll be missed.”

Kurt Mann shifted from centre to fullback in the Tigers victory and would be the early front-runner to replace Dugan while rookies Jai Field and Matt Dufty will come into calculations.

The loss leaves the Tigers languishing at the bottom of the ladder and Ivan Cleary’s looming arrival seemingly can’t come quick enough, though it remains to be seen if the former Penrith and Warriors mentor can produce a quick turnaround in fortunes.

Nightingale had his treble by halftime, two courtesy of Widdop, who  provided a deft floating kick for his second and a three-man cut-out pass for his third that twice left opposing winger David Nofoaluma in no man’s land.

Dugan’s departure midway through the half did little to slow the Dragons up with Widdop threading through the pinpoint grubber for Tim Lafai to score in the 58th minute to take an unassailable 20-6 lead before Nene McDonald’s late four-pointer put the stamp the on the victory.