Five things we learned from the Dragons win over the Titans

That, and a big win over Cronulla a week earlier, hardly amounts to a stunning resurgence but it was what the Dragons needed to do after a truly abysmal return from the COVID shutdown.

Paul McGregor made some changes that have sparked some sort of turnaround. Far bigger tests loom in the next three weeks when they play the Roosters, Raiders and Sea Eagles but it's not a bad starting point to look at the five things we learned from the win over the Titans.

Boy do things change quickly in the NRL.

Mary came into the season at the shortest odds in 'first coach to be sacked' markets and Warriors coach Stephen Kearney looked to have hammered the first nail in his coffin when he orchestrated a near faultless 18-0 win over the Dragons.

READ MORE: Dragons make it back to back victories with win over the Titans

Only a couple of weeks later and news filtered through midway through the Dragons match that Kearney was in fact the first coach given his marching orders.

It was remarkable covering the Dragons-Sharks game last week where you could almost see a passing of the baton from McGregor to John Morris as the most under-pressure coach; in the space of a game.

McGregor won't have won over the red v faithful with wins over the lowly Sharks and Titans but, in the broader context of the competition, you could well argue that Morris, Paul Green and Anthony Seibold are feeling the heat more.

Who will it be next week? It could be Mary again, who knows but it's a roller coaster ride.

McGregor must've had a helluva chat with Matt Dufty.

It's no real secret that McGregor and his livewire No. 1 haven't seen eye-to-eye over the past few seasons. Dufty's been seemingly out the door a couple of times.

Most recently he was linked to the Titans, revealing that McGregor issued a frank ultimatum "go and play 20 games for the Titans, or stay here and fight to be picked each week."

It irked Titans coach Justin Holbrook but, on the weekend's performance, it's unlikely Dufty's regretting his call. The fist indication there'd been a change in the relationship came after the win over the Sharks.

"I've never, ever challenged Matt Dufty's talent. Ever," McGregor said.

"I've actually been the biggest supporter, to anyone who wants to listen, how good Matt Dufty's talent is. It's about making sure he's busy all the time. Today he was, and I thought he was outstanding."

Coaches rarely have that type of discussion with the press without first having it with the player.

Dufty was busy again on the weekend but there were back to back try-saving tackles on the line that stood out for those watching closely enough. That hasn't typically been his go.

It's probably something brought about by mutual need. With the plan to give Zac Lomax first crack not panning out, and with the Dragons failing to score a try in two straight games, McGregor needed his X factor firing.

At 24, Dufty's at that point where he risks becoming one of those great unrealised talents. It appears they've met in the middle. There's a long way to go, but it looks more promising than it has.

Ben Hunt's still a nine for now.

Hunt didn't set the world on fire from the bench against the Titans but it's pretty apparent he gets them going forward and the attack's looked better since McGregor shifted him to the bench.

It's been against ordinary opposition, McGregor could've shifted him back to halfback and they still would've beaten the Titans. However, it still looks the best fit.

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As discussed with club premiership-winner Nathan Fien last week, it comes down to whether a player truly embraces the switch. Hunt's comments through the week that he wants to be back at No. 7 sooner rather than later indicate he's only half on board.

Australian coach Mal Meninga made interesting pre-match comments on Fox Sports, saying he feels Hunt's best position is hooker but if, at 30, he isn't convinced himself than "he probably never will be."

Still, it looks likely to be the Dragons approach for the foreseeable future. It has as much to do with how the rest of the spine functions as anything else.

One thing people may have not realised is how far back new halfback Adam Clune and Dufty go. The pair were a powerful one-two punch at under 20s level and have played together for years, which has not doubt helped Clune adjust over the past fortnight.

"In time he'll take more control and, when he does that, we'll be a better team again but I thought today was definitely a step forward and the more opportunity he gets the better he'll be.

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The time's right for James Graham.

James Graham's been a champion of our game long enough to put him in that rare category of player with the right to go out on their terms.

When he said "I'm not looking for the door" two weeks ago he meant it but, as we've said, things change quick in the game. Luke Thompson's arrival at Canterbury has opened the door for a swansong with St Helens and you can't begrudge him that.

When he was recruited by the Dragons they were buying a leader more than a forward, but it's understandable that the club won't stand in his way. It's probably run its course to some degree.

His performance on Saturday said a lot about him. He's past his best but, with his side needing a win, he somehow squeezed a bit more juice from the orange with 12 carries - all of them tough - for a hundred metres.

He doesn't owe anyone any more.

Dragons get free swing at Roosters.

The right time to get the Roosters? No such thing, especially after watching them sprint away from Eels in the straight on Saturday night.

It's hard to recall any team looking more unbeatable. It looks ominous for the Dragons but they'll likely be under less pressure than in any game this season.

McGregor was spared the axe a fortnight ago and has since won two on the bounce. It seemed pretty apparent that the notion they were playing for their coach's future was on the Dragons players' minds. They were playing tense.

They'll be despised outsiders against the Roosters - rightfully so - but it's a free hit; might as well swing for the fences.