A 15-minute blitz was all it took for the Dragons to reboot their NRLW hopes last week, but but star centre Jess Sergis knows things can turn sour just as quickly.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Dragons were staring down the barrel of back-to-back losses when they trailed the Warriors 6-0 at halftime before running in five unanswered tries to seal a 26-6 win.
A loss would have buried their grand final hopes, a win put them in the box seat for a berth in the decider heading into Sunday's showdown with the Roosters.
Their Sydney rivals are without a win in two games this campaign, but Sergis says her side's own wildly fluctuating fortunes show the importance of every minute in such a short premiership.
"We knew it was do or die for us having a three-game competition so we knew we had to go out and set a standard," Sergis said.
"We just had to be patient and we were, there was only 15 minutes to go when we scored all our points. We know we've got the girls to do it, we've got the individual talent, we just had to go out there and put it all together.
"The Roosters are the same, they've got all the individual talent, they just need to put it together. It could happen for them on Sunday, they could knock us out of the park 50-0.
"Anything can happen, it's that type of league. It's another do or die game for us."
Patience proved the key contrast from their opening round loss to the Broncos, one that saw them make 11 errors in a clunky attacking display.
Read more: Stunning second half seals win for Dragons
They looked anything but against the Warriors, running in five tries in 18 minutes in a second-half onslaught to grab the win.
"Coming away from the Broncos we didn't really use the footy at all, it was just individual hit-ups through the middle of the field," Sergis said.
"We had so many dropped balls and errors. We've got a lot of talent on our edges, we knew we just had to complete our sets and be patient with the ball.
"It was 6-0 at halftime so we knew we had a lot of work to do but we stuck to it and played the footy we knew we had in us late in the game.
"Coming in against the Roosters this Sunday we're going to have to show that patience but probably get some points early on."
Sergis has been outstanding in both outings so far this season, grabbing a try and running for 171 metres in 14 carries against the Warriors.
It's a run that shows all the benefits of a full season with Helensburgh, City and NSW ahead of this year's competition having played barely any footy due to injury heading into last season.
"This year my prep was the best it's ever been," Sergis said.
"I've looked after my body tremendously. I knew coming off last year I wasn't looking after my body or doing those little things right.
"Having those games and those rep games behind me I feel a lot more confident and I think I'm playing the best footy I've ever played."
Coach Daniel Lacey named a 20-woman squad on Tuesday, with Keeley Davis retaining her spot at five-eighth as Kimiora Nati continues to battle illness.
Queensland Origin rep Stephanie Mooka also returns on the wing with Rikeya Horne shifting to the bench.