Full of fire: Gareth Widdop and his Dragons teammates are on top of the NRL ladder. Credit:Adam McLean It means the Dragons would have to emulate their drought-breaking, fairy tale counterparts from 2010 and Melbourne's redemption success in 2012. The Storm won the title after being stripped of premierships in 2007 and 2009 because of the salary cap scandal. Those NRL years have not been included in the analysis. Only two of the 13 teams to match the Dragons start in the past decade, two missed the finals, the Gold Coast crashing to 14th in 2014 and 13th in 2008.

St George Illawarra have a golden opportunity to move to 6-1, when they take on a North Queensland outfit without the star power of Johnathan Thurston, Jake Granville and Matt Scott at WIN Stadium on Saturday night. It comes before the Anzac Day battle against the Roosters, then dates with last year's grand final combatants Melbourne and Cronulla. "We would have wanted that one more against the Eels, we'd be six out of six," Dragons second-rower Joel Thompson said. "But we've been going good, the results from the work we've put in. "I can't talk enough about how much every individual out there is wanting to push and the best performance they can and know their role the best they can."

The Dragons' remarkable transformation is reflected in being ranked No.1 in attack this year, with 163 points and second in defence, conceding just 82. The Storm's 2012 team piled on 198 in six rounds (first) and 79 against (second). So dominant was the Dragons defence in 2010, they let in just 65 points (first), but scored only 134, ranked seventh at the time. If you're still not convinced by the numbers, they do show the extent of the Paul McGregor-led overhaul. Last year, the Dragons managed just 40 points in the opening six rounds, the lowest in the competition. Thompson admits last year's failures are fuelling this season's early success.

"We've used last year as a sort of motivation, no one wants to feel like we did last year," he said. "It was absolutely horrible, everyone was copping criticism and it was unfair on a lot of the players, like Gareth [Widdop] and the coaches. "We've come in here [this year] with a little bit of fire in us." SET THE PACE How teams who started 5-1 (or better) finished in the 16-team, 26-round NRL era. The 2009 and 2007 seasons are not included due to the Storm's salary cap scandals.

2016 – Broncos: 5-1 (Ladder: Fifth; Finish: Semi-finals) 2015 – Broncos: 5-1 (Ladder: Second; Finish: Runner-up) 2014 – Titans: 5-1 (Ladder: 14th) 2013 – Storm: 6-0 (Ladder: Third; Finish: Semi-finals); Sea Eagles: 5-1 (Ladder: Fourth; Finish: Runner-up); Rabbitohs: 5-1 (Ladder: Second; Finish: Preliminary final) 2012 – Storm: 6-0 (Ladder: Second; Finish: Premiers); Broncos: 5-1 (Ladder: Eighth; Finish: Elimination final).

2011 – Storm: 5-1 (Ladder: First; Finish: Preliminary final); Broncos: 5-1 (Ladder: Third; Finish: Preliminary final); Dragons: 5-1 (Ladder: Fifth; Finish: Semi-final) Loading 2010 – Dragons: 5-1 (Ladder: First; Finish: Premiers) 2008 – Titans: 5-1 (Ladder: 13th)