EVERYONE seems surprised at the fact the Dragons are sitting on top of the NRL ladder.

But not us. We — the players, the club — knew the potential this team had before the season even started.

Because while we may not have the “star power” other teams boast, we’ve got a dedicated playing group and a coach who’s given us a very simple message.

Paul McGregor deserves a lot of credit for our early-season success.

Round 19

Tyson Frizell writes an exclusive column for foxsports.com.au

MARY’S SIMPLE SECRET TO SUCCESS

Mary has basically stripped the game plan down to its bare bones.

He’s simplified rugby league for us and that little trick is working wonders so far.

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Last year was tough because we were one of the lowest scoring clubs in the competition, and there was a lot of focus on our attack.

It put pressure on Mary and on the team to tinker with the game plan and try a lot of different things from week to week.

It meant we were almost trying to score on every play, and us players were probably overthinking every time we had the ball.

We were having a lot of information and instructions thrown at us.

This year Mary has totally simplified it, giving us all pretty simple roles which obviously makes our jobs easier.

Ben Ikin, Nathan Ryan and Ben Glover are joined by Rabbitohs GM of Football Shane Richardson to discuss the club’s plan to win their next premiership.

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He doesn’t overload us with instructions anymore.

On the back of our work up the middle Gareth Widdop and Josh McCrone are given time and room to create late in sets, get the ball out wide and then the outside backs do their job.

Mary has helped us turn our form around.

REP JUMPERS CALLING

Our forward pack is playing really well over the first seven games, laying the platform for our attack.

There’s definitely a couple of guys I’d be handing representative jumpers to, and I hope they get their chance.

Jack de Belin has been consistently improving over the past couple of years and I think he’s now an Origin-style forward.

JDB has been in the NSW Country side in the past and if NSW is looking for a middle man, they could do a lot worse than pick him.

He’s tough, he runs hard, he’s a workhorse.

Jack de Belin and the Dragons players celebrate a win. Source: News Corp Australia

Paul Vaughan has also been playing out of his skin and can’t be too far off a representative call-up.

Russell Packer is another of our forwards who has been in purple form recently, and surely New Zealand will be looking at him when they pick their Test squad.

But of course all we can worry about is going out and doing our job for the Red V each week.

If we continue to do that, hopefully those rep jumpers follow.

AN ANZAC TRIBUTE

This round is my favourite of the whole footy year.

Playing on Anzac Day is an experience unlike any other I’ve had in rugby league.

Outside finals I rate the annual Anzac Day game against the Roosters as my favourite.

The whole build-up to the game is sensational. The club usually gets some former soldiers to come in and talk to the players, and we love listening to them and meeting the men who have fought for our country.

Tyson Frizell of the Dragons in action. Source: News Corp Australia

Game day is special too. It’s something else.

It’s one of those games the players seem to rise 10 per cent for.

Hopefully we can continue our streak with a win over the Roosters!