Can St George Illawarra shake their unwanted tag of "May premiers" and prevent another late-season slump this year?
That's the question on everyone's lips after the Dragons again lost their way following the State of Origin period in 2018.
Soaring at the top of the ladder after 17 rounds, Paul McGregor's men dropped five of the final eight matches to tumble to seventh position.
The Saints recovered in the finals series to firstly demolish the Broncos on their own turf before bravely succumbing to the Rabbitohs by a point.
But the manner of their slide in the back-end of the regular season leaves doubts to whether the Dragons will be genuine contenders or merely an early rounds nuisance in 2019.
Helping the club's cause is a fully fit roster, with captain Gareth Widdop and Origin players Paul Vaughan and Tariq Sims having recovered from injuries.
However, de Belin's future is in limbo after the lock found himself embroiled in serious legal drama over the break.
Widdop will depart for the UK in 2020, taking with him a chunk of the team's attacking prowess – so 2019 could be St George Illawarra's best shot at the title for the foreseeable future.
Corey Norman has joined the club, giving the Dragons three valuable playmaking options alongside Widdop and halfback Ben Hunt.
And the Red V's forward pack stacks up to the very finest in the NRL.
The club's pre-season was marred by the distraction of sexual assault allegations against star lock Jack de Belin, who has been stood down.
Coach McGregor is off-contract beyond 2019 and the path to landing an extension is simple – find season-long consistency.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS PRE-SEASON NEWS
Dragons and NSW forward Jack de Belin was charged with aggravated sexual assault in December.
De Belin appeared at Wollongong Local Court on February 12 and pleaded not guilty to the accusations.
He became the first player to feel the impact of the NRL's new 'no-fault' behaviour policy when he was stood down indefinitely on full pay in late February.
De Belin's next court date is on April 17, a day before round six kicks off.
In January, St George Illawarra announced they would release skipper Gareth Widdop after the 2019 NRL season.
Widdop, who was initially contracted to the Dragons until 2021, has signed a three-year deal with the Warrington Wolves.
The Dragons had earlier snared the services of Corey Norman, who was unwanted at the Parramatta Eels.
Norman was embroiled in controversy only weeks after his arrival at St George Illawarra when a video leaked showing him encouraging an older man to snort cocaine.
It was quickly revealed the footage was years old, however, and the matter had already been dealt with by the Integrity Unit.
For his part, Norman insists he has matured and done away with his party boy lifestyle.
The playmaker has spent time working with a clothing charity for the homeless during the off-season.
Norman is expected to play five-eighth while Widdop reverts to fullback – a role he played earlier in his career at the Melbourne Storm.
The eighth Immortal, Andrew Johns, questioned the move, saying it could backfire on the club.
It is unknown where incumbent No.1 Matt Dufty fits in.
There was interest in Dufty from multiple clubs but he will stay put.
The 23-year-old looks likely to either slot onto the Dragons bench as a utility or bide his time in reserve grade until Widdop moves on.
PRE-SEASON TRIALS
February 23 – Dragons 18 def. Knights 10
March 2 – Dragons vs Rabbitohs (Charity Shield)
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS' 30-MAN NRL SQUAD
Powerful winger Nene Macdonald has departed to the Cowboys but the Dragons have recruited a handful of outside backs who are in the running to replace him.
Former Broncos flankers Jonus Pearson and Lachlan Maranta are two candidates, as is ex-Canberra Raiders under 20s player Mikaele Ravalawa.
Reliable front-rower Leeson Ah Mau is gone, having signed with the Warriors to be closer to family.
Prop Korbin Sims arrives from Brisbane to reunite with his brother Tariq in the Illawarra region where they grew up.
Veteran winger Jason Nightingale has retired.
Utility Kurt Mann switched to the Knights during the pre-season.
| Player | Date of Birth | Height, weight | Position | NRL matches | Rep honours | |
| 1 | Ben Hunt | 27/3/1990 | 178cm, 88kg | Halfback | 212 | Australia, Queensland, |
| 2 | Blake Lawrie | 10/1/1997 | 185cm, 106kg | Prop | 15 | Nil |
| 3 | Cameron McInnes | 1/2/1994 | 177cm, 91kg | Hooker | 89 | City |
| 4 | Corey Norman | 3/12/1991 | 185cm, 91kg | Five-eighth | 170 | PMXIII |
| 5 | Darren Nicholls | 15/4/1989 | 182cm, 89kg | Halfback | 1 | Nil |
| 6 | Euan Aitken | 16/6/1995 | 182cm, 93kg | Centre | 80 | Scotland, Country, PMXIII |
| 7 | Gareth Widdop (captain) | 12/3/1989 | 181cm, 91kg | Five-eighth/Fullback | 185 | England, World All Stars |
| 8 | Jack de Belin | 17/3/1991 | 188cm, 106kg | Lock | 154 | NSW, Country |
| 9 | Jacob Host | 3/9/1996 | 190cm, 104kg | Second-row | 24 | Nil |
| 10 | Jai Field | 6/9/1997 | 181cm, 85kg | Five-eighth/Fullback | 5 | Nil |
| 11 | James Graham | 10/9/1985 | 187cm, 107kg | Prop | 161 | England, Great Britain, NRL All Stars |
| 12 | Jeremy Latimore | 8/12/1986 | 191cm, 113kg | Prop | 164 | PMXIII |
| 13 | Jonus Pearson | 28/5/1995 | 184cm, 95kg | Wing | 11 | Nil |
| 14 | Jordan Pereira | 6/4/1993 | 182cm, 97kg | Wing | 9 | Nil |
| 15 | Josh Kerr | 11/2/1996 | 197cm, 112kg | Prop | 0 | Nil |
| 16 | Korbin Sims | 2/2/1992 | 189cm, 108kg | Prop | 120 | Fiji |
| 17 | Lachlan Maranta | 17/4/1992 | 187cm, 93kg | Wing | 70 | Nil |
| 18 | Lachlan Timm | 26/6/1996 | 186cm, 111kg | Prop | 0 | Nil |
| 19 | Luciano Leilua | 8/6/1996 | 186cm, 116kg | Second-row | 21 | Nil |
| 20 | Matthew Dufty | 10/1/1996 | 179cm, 83kg | Fullback | 33 | Nil |
| 21 | Mikaele Ravalawa | 9/11/1997 | 184cm, 93kg | Wing/Centre | 0 | Fiji |
| 22 | Paul Vaughan | 23/4/1991 | 193cm, 110kg | Prop | 127 | Italy, NSW, NRL All Stars, Country |
| 23 | Reece Robson | 18/6/1998 | 180cm, 91kg | Hooker | 2 | Nil |
| 24 | Mitchell Allgood | 27/4/1989 | 194cm, 109kg | Prop | 70 | City |
| 25 | Tariq Sims | 9/2/1990 | 193cm, 106kg | Second-row | 155 | Fiji, NSW, Country |
| 26 | Timoteo Lafai | 27/5/1991 | 184cm, 98kg | Centre | 142 | Samoa |
| 27 | Tristan Sailor | 23/6/1998 | 177cm, 80kg | Five-eighth | 0 | Nil |
| 28 | Tyson Frizell | 9/10/1991 | 183cm, 108kg | Second-row | 136 | Australia, Wales, NSW, Country |
| 29 | Zachary Lomax | 24/9/1999 | 190cm, 94kg | Centre | 4 | PMXIII |
| 30 | TBC | – | – | – | – | – |
COACH: Paul McGregor
Additions (players who weren't in 2018 top 30): Korbin Sims (Brisbane Broncos), Jonus Pearson (Brisbane Broncos), Mikaele Ravalawa (Canberra Raiders), Lachlan Timm (Melbourne Storm)
Losses: Leeson Ah Mau (New Zealand Warriors), Jason Nightingale (retirement), Nene Macdonald (North Queensland Cowboys), Reuben Garrick (Manly Sea Eagles), Patrick Herbert (unsigned), Hame Sele (Penrith Panthers), Kurt Mann (Newcastle Knights)
Re-signed: Mitchell Allgood (2019), Matthew Dufty (2019), Josh Kerr (2019), Jeremy Latimore (2019), Luciano Leilua (2020), Zac Lomax (2020), Cameron McInnes (2021), Jordan Pereira (2020)
Off-contract beyond 2019: Mitchell Allgood, Matthew Dufty, Jai Field, Josh Kerr, Jeremy Latimore, Blake Lawrie, Lachlan Maranta, Darren Nicholls, Reece Robson, Tristan Sailor, Lachlan Timm
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS' BETTING ODDS
At $13 (via TAB as of 21/2/19), the Dragons are seventh in the betting to win the premiership. It would be the joint venture's second time lifting the Provan-Summons Trophy, having reigned supreme in 2010.
Gareth Widdop ($13) is equal-third overall in the market for the Dally M Medal and by far the shortest-priced Saints player. Ben Hunt is next at $41.
St George Illawarra are $1.70 to make the top eight, $3.25 to finish in the top four and $61 to suffer the most losses.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS' 2019 DRAW
Games played on
Thursday: 4
Friday: 3
Saturday: 6
Sunday: 7
Monday: 1
Teams they play twice
North Queensland Cowboys, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Newcastle Knights, Canterbury Bulldogs, Manly Sea Eagles, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels, Cronulla Sharks, Gold Coast Titans
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue |
| 1 | Saturday 16 March 7:35pm | North Queensland Cowboys | 1300SMILES Stadium |
| 2 | Thursday 21 March 7:50pm | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Jubilee Stadium |
| 3 | Thursday 28 March 7:50pm | Brisbane Broncos | Suncorp Stadium |
| 4 | Sunday 7 April 6:10pm | Newcastle Knights | McDonald Jones Stadium |
| 5 | Sunday 14 April 4:05pm | Canterbury Bulldogs | Jubilee Stadium |
| 6 | Saturday 20 April 7:35pm | Manly Sea Eagles | WIN Stadium |
| 7 | Thursday 25 April 4:05pm | Sydney Roosters | Sydney Cricket Ground |
| 8 | Sunday 5 May 4:05pm | Parramatta Eels | Bankwest Stadium |
| 9 | Saturday 11 May 5:30pm | New Zealand Warriors | Suncorp Stadium |
| 10 | Sunday 19 May 2:00pm | Newcastle Knights | Glen Willow Oval |
| 11 | Sunday 26 May 4:05pm | Cronulla Sharks | WIN Stadium |
| 12 | BYE | – | – |
| 13 | Monday 10 June 4:00pm | Canterbury Bulldogs | ANZ Stadium |
| 14 | Sunday 16 June 2:00pm | Manly Sea Eagles | Lottoland |
| 15 | Friday 28 June 6:00pm | North Queensland Cowboys | WIN Stadium |
| 16 | Thursday 4 July 7:50pm | Melbourne Storm | WIN Stadium |
| 17 | Sunday 14 July 6:10pm | Canberra Raiders | WIN Stadium |
| 18 | Friday 19 July 7:55pm | Penrith Panthers | Panthers Stadium |
| 19 | Friday 26 July 7:55pm | South Sydney Rabbitohs | ANZ Stadium |
| 20 | Sunday 4 August 4:05pm | Parramatta Eels | Jubilee Stadium |
| 21 | Saturday 10 August 3:00pm | Gold Coast Titans | Jubilee Stadium |
| 22 | Sunday 18 August 4:05pm | Cronulla Sharks | Shark Park |
| 23 | Saturday 24 August 7:35pm | Sydney Roosters | Jubilee Stadium |
| 24 | Sunday 1 September 4:05pm | Wests Tigers | Sydney Cricket Ground |
| 25 | Saturday 7 September 7:35pm | Gold Coast Titans | Cbus Super Stadium |
It's a big year for...
Ben Hunt.
It was hard not to feel sorry for Hunt at times in 2018.
Recruited from Brisbane on a $6 million, five-year deal, the Queensland and Australian representative was praised then pilloried in a topsy-turvy first season at the Dragons.
Hunt was the standout halfback in the NRL over the opening 10 rounds, his slick combination with Gareth Widdop a constant source of points.
But as the Dragons' form dipped at the halfway mark of the competition, so too did Hunt's – though he unfairly copped much more criticism than he deserved.
The 28-year-old opened up about seeing a psychologist to cope with the flak.
With Gareth Widdop moving to fullback in '19, Hunt will likely be required to step up as the Dragons' chief organiser and playmaker.
Copious pressure will be hoisted onto Hunt but if he can keep his composure, St George Illawarra will be primed to power into September.
MEMBERSHIP AND TICKETING
As of 21/1/19, the Dragons had 13,060 members committed for the 2019 season.
St George Illawarra finished with 21,245 members in 2018.
Membership packages can be viewed here.
General tickets for the season are available here.
