“CHOKE” is the taboo word inside the four walls of Dragons HQ, but there’s no denying the reputation St George Illawarra is building.

The club looked like the best thing going just a couple of short months ago when they led the NRL. They looked a sure thing to take out the minor premiership, and bookies had them at short odds to win the title in 2018.

Fast forward to Round 23 and the Red V are tumbling down the ladder, now sitting outside the top four and struggling big time.

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Round 20

A 40-4 loss at the hands of competition also-ran Parramatta on Saturday is their lowest point … so far.

In the space of six weeks they have slumped from first to fifth on the table. Now their five-eighth Gareth Widdop is injured — possibly out for the season — and their halfback Ben Hunt is on the ropes.

But there’s a sense of deja vu about the place.

Because put simply, the team IS choking. Again.

Fox Sports Lab stats show the amazing trend at St George Illawarra of sliding further down the ladder as the season goes on.

Going back to 2014, when Steve Price was sacked mid-season and replaced by now-coach Paul McGregor, the Dragons’ formline tends to drop away after the halfway point of the draw.

Dragons' ladder position per round, for the past five NRL season Source: FOX SPORTS

In 2015 they spent 10 weeks inside the competition’s top four, before falling to as low as 10th and only just scraping into finals. They lost the first final and were bundled out.

The following year was a write-off and they failed to play finals, having only spent two weeks in total inside the top eight.

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In 2017 they amazingly spent the first 18 weeks of the season inside the top eight, holding top spot for two rounds early in the year, before dramatically falling away on form.

Their slide was so bad last year they fell out of finals contention altogether.

Their reputation as chokers was well and truly set after that dismal 2017, but no one expected it to be quite so bad this season.

This year the Dragons have sat in first place for 14 weeks in total. They momentarily dropped to second for one round, before reclaiming the number one spot and staying there for three weeks post-Origin.

But their decline over the past two months is stark, and worrying.

“Choke” is the best way to describe it.

STORY OF THE SEASONS

Here is the ladder position of the Dragons, in order from round 1 to the end of the home-and-away season, for each of the past five seasons.

The trend is clearly when they start the season well they slide down the ladder towards the end.

Steve Price was ruthlessly sacked from the coaching chair after a few losses in 2014, replaced by the man who now wears the crown.

Season 2014 (Steve Price sacked mid-year): 3rd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 6th, 9th, 6th, 9th, 13th, 13th, 13th, 13th, 13th, 13th, 12th, 11th, 12th, 10th, 11th, 11th, 11th, 11th, 11th, 11th

Season 2015: 12th, 15th, 12th, 11th, 8th, 3rd, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, 4th, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 7th, 7th, 8th, 8th, 8th, 8th, lost first final

Season 2016: 9th, 13th, 13th, 12th, 14th, 14th, 13th, 9th, 11th, 7th, 10th, 10th, 10th, 10th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 12th, 11th, 11th, 11th, 11th

Season 2017: 6th, 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 5th, 5th, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 8th, 8th, 9th, 9th, 9th, 9th, 9th

Season 2018*: 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 4th, 4th, 5th

Fox Sports Lab highlights the drop off in Dragons' run metres differential during games this season. Source: FOX SPORTS

FORWARD FAILURE

It’s hard to pinpoint the reason for St George Illawarra’s ability to get worse as a season drags on.

But this graphic (see above) from Fox Sports Lab highlights a disturbing trend for the team this season.

The run metres differential has dropped off significantly from the start of the year to Round 22.

Ben Hunt copped his share of flak for Saturday’s loss to Parramatta, which was warranted, but these numbers show the forward pack just isn’t up to scratch.

Considering it boasts Origin players Tyson Frizell, Tariq Sims, Jack de Belin, and international James Graham, the form of this Dragons pack leaves a lot to be desired.

At the start of the season they were racking up 400 metres more than their opponents. On Saturday they gave up more than 600 metres to the Eels.

The halves will shoulder a lot of the blame, but the forwards must also come under the microscope.