St George Illawarra's pack are taking the rap for halfback Ben Hunt's form slump, saying his performances are on them and the rest of the team as the Dragons splutter towards the NRL finals.
One of 2018's biggest recruits, Hunt looked like a big-money gamble worth taking when the Dragons owned the top ladder spot almost exclusively over the first 16 rounds.
But his form has taken a dive with the Dragons losing six of their past eight and falling to sixth after Sunday's 38-0 thumping by Canterbury.
Searching for answers, the side's forwards are insistent they are playing too sideways and not with same direct vigour they did over the opening half of the season.
The Dragons have also won just one possession count in the past eight weeks, something they lost just twice in the opening 16 rounds.
"I love Benny Hunt so I'll back him to the hilt," second-rower Tariq Sims said.
"Obviously as back-rower on his edge I didn't do my job on the weekend so to be honest I'm pretty dirty on myself.
"It comes down to us as a pack and as a team, we need to control the ball a lot more, get to the end of our sets well and lay a better platform for him to play off the back of."
The numbers show Hunt has gone tremendously off the boil, particularly with his short-kicking game which was derided during State of Origin for Queensland.
According to Fox Sports Stats, he's forced just three dropouts in eight matches since the Maroons' Game II loss compared to 12 in the 14 prior.
"I suppose when you get paid big dollars and you're the new recruit a lot of expectations come," said fellow forward Jack de Belin.
"It's hard when you're the halfback and the focal point of the side, when you're not performing you cop a lot of criticism.
"But I feel like he's done a great job for us. He's in the same boat as me and half the side that we're not playing our best."
The Dragons at least received some good news on Tuesday, despite any chance of a Gareth Widdop return from shoulder injury against Newcastle on Saturday being ruled out.
Centre Euan Aitken has at least been cleared of a serious hamstring injury and could be back in a fortnight, while retiring winger Jason Nightingale will miss as few as two games with an elbow dislocation.
Everyone has been given a lighter week and will only hit the paddock as a team on Friday.
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