NRL: Dragons fanning flames of self belief

Mark Gasnier of the Dragons. Photo /Getty Images.

It may be a revenge mission for some, but for a batch of St George Illawarra veterans tomorrow's preliminary final against Wests Tigers represents the first step in eradicating a decade of disappointment.

While the red and white faithful seek payback for the Tigers knocking the club out one game short of the grand final in 2005, the players themselves are more intent on finally delivering on years of potential.

Finals have been a common commodity in the Dragons' 12-year existence, but they have failed to make it to the decider other than the heartbreaking grand final loss in their debut campaign in 1999.

Through the ensuing period they have possessed a roster the envy of the league, with centre Mark Gasnier admitting he thought the Dragons would have a premiership to show for their efforts.

"If I answer honestly, I would probably say yes," Gasnier said when asked if he thought he would have won a competition by now.

"04, 05, 06, I thought we would have got the opportunity to play in a grand final then.

"If anything, it really teaches you the reality that grand finals don't come easy. You've got to do all the hard work to get there and then you've got to do it all again to win one.

"If you're fortunate enough to win a grand final, it's a very tough month of football."

Gasnier wasn't there for last year's failed finals campaign - when the Dragons became the first minor premiers to bow out in straight sets - but senses the eagerness amongst the group to make up for missed chances.

He was there, however, midway through last decade alongside the likes of current teammates Matt Cooper, Dean Young, Ben Creagh and skipper Ben Hornby when the Dragons lost back-to-back preliminary finals.

All are yet to play in a grand final - with the only Dragons to have taken part in deciders being Darius Boyd (with Brisbane in 2006) and Jeremy Smith (Melbourne 2007).

"I thought I'd have more chances at it," Young said.

"I thought in '05 when Browny (former Dragons coach Nathan Brown) used to talk to us about this squad of players ... we finished equal first and we won about eight games in a row going into the semis and he was saying 'you might not get this chance again'.

"You believe him but in the back of your mind you think 'yeah, I'm playing first grade, I'll get other chances'.

"They don't come around.

"I think in'05 we were the best side and we didn't aim up in the grand final qualifier, we got beaten by a better side on the day and that still hurts today.

"Last year hurt too -'05 and '09 stand out for me."

Like they did in 2005, the Dragons go into tomorrow's encounter after a week off, coach Wayne Bennett with the luxury of naming a squad unchanged from the win over Manly in the opening week of the finals.

- AAP