The initial excitement in Wollongong has faded away.
Cameron Smith has given a stark evaluation of St George Illawarra's sluggish performance at the start of 2026, focusing on the struggles of Daniel Atkinson and Kyle Flanagan during the team's winless run.
Though there were glimpses of potential, the first three matches against the Bulldogs, Storm, and Eels left fans and analysts perplexed.
On Nine's 100% Footy, Smith clearly pinpointed the source of the issues plaguing the team.
"They've got a very big, very physical forward pack and athletic outside backs, I think their halves need to stand up and organise more," he stated.
"We saw a couple pictures from the weekend where they got their hands on the ball and shovelled it out wide, and there's nothing organised, no one knows what's going on."
"It's up to Flanagan and Atkinson to get that sorted."
The statistics from the match against the Eels only amplify the concern, showing a dismal 74 percent completion rate and missed opportunities against a vulnerable defense.
Phil Gould echoed Smith's sentiments, criticizing the Dragons for failing to capitalize when they had the upper hand against their opponents.