The Dragons are in trouble and in hindsight there are a few issues which have led to their remarkable slide.
A team that was almost unbeatable has been plummeting out of contention during the last month. Their slide has taken on extra significance for the Warriors, who play them in the penultimate NRL round next week.
I'm not brave enough to predict the Dragons are finished yet - they might turn things around against the Melbourne Storm tonight and suddenly the picture will look very different for the Warriors next week.
Somehow, I doubt this. The problems run deeper than a surface-form slump.
The departure of tough forwards Neville Costigan and Jeremy Smith after last year's title-winning season has come back to haunt the Dragons. They were the two guys who showed the way in terms of playing tough every week. In days past, key players would have been less likely to leave a championship-winning side.