NRL: What is pressure?

Jeremy Smith of the Dragons takes on the Sharks defence during the round 15 NRL match in Sydney. Photo / Getty Images

The burden of a 31-year wait must be a heavy one to bear, but Dragons hitman Jeremy Smith said expectation won't hold back his teammates.

The St George Illawarra forward has tersely dismissed suggestions that 31 years of expectation are riding on the backs of the Dragons players in Sunday's NRL grand final.The joint venture's older half, St George, haven't added to their 15 premierships since 1979.

They have lost five grand finals since then, including the 1999 decider in the first year of the merger with Illawarra.

The Dragons army is desperate for a drought-breaking title and their faith in six-time premiership-winning coach Wayne Bennett delivering one has been palpable.

Smith, though, who won a grand final with Melbourne in 2007, only to have it taken away after this year's salary cap scandal, was certainly not feeling the pressure.

Asked about the huge expectations on the minor premiers on Tuesday, Smith shot back: "There's none on me. That's the club, that's not us."

Pressed on whether a 31-year premiership drought meant more pressure, he added: "What is pressure? I had nothing to do with that.

"What I have had something to do with is the last two years so I'm pretty confident that we're in good stead at the moment."

The Dragons lock played one of his best games for the club in last Saturday's 13-12 win over the Wests Tigers, escaping a ban despite being charged for leading with his knees in a tackle in the process.

"I didn't even realise I was being charged until late Monday so I'm definitely relieved now," he said. "It was a big game; I like playing big games, they're good to be a part of, especially when you come out on top.

"I still have to work on a few things this week at training to get my game right, but I'm getting back to where I want to be."

The Cronulla-bound forward said he hasn't bothered his teammates with advice on how to handle grand final week but he can see some parallels between the Dragons and the Storm side he was a part of.

"They're about the same," he said. Dragons prop Michael Weyman was hopeful of training fully on Thursday as he nursed an ongoing groin injury through grand final week.

Weyman was only involved in rehab work on Tuesday as the Dragons trained in front of fans at their WIN Stadium base.

The former Canberra forward is likely to require off-season surgery for the injury, which he has carried throughout the season, but has been named to start by Bennett.

"It is [uncomfortable after a game] but I've been putting up with it all year," Weyman said. "It's just one of those things you've got to stick at."

- AAP