LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The St George Illawarra Dragons may not be a sure bet for the finals this season, but recent performances have shown that they are unlikely to strike fear into their top eight rivals if they do make it.
If they want to be anything more than just cannon fodder in the knockout rounds, they need to step up and show they are made of tougher stuff - and do it quickly.
In the past few weeks, the Dragons have been on a roller-coaster ride.
Looking back to Round 22, they pulled off a stunning victory over the Melbourne Storm, breaking a 25-year drought in the Victorian capital.
This win got the club's supporters all fired up and hopeful for what was to come.
However, Round 23 brought a reality check as they suffered a loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs in front of a packed house at Kogarah.
It seemed like the Bulldogs were the home team, as the Dragons failed to bring their own supporters into the game.
It's clear that the Dragons have some work to do if they want to make a real impact in the finals.
They'll need to dig deep, show some fighting spirit, and find the consistency that has been missing in their recent performances.
Otherwise, they risk being little more than a speed bump for the teams at the top of the ladder.