Jack Bird admits he was below his best during St George Illawarra's early-season slump before being challenged by coach Anthony Griffin to rediscover his mojo.
Bird was among the Dragons' best in the big win over the Dolphins on Saturday night, when he was dominant in defence after moving to the second-row and putting Mikaele Ravalawa over for a try.
The 28-year-old will return to lock for Sunday's clash with Gold Coast, with Jaydn Su'A cleared of a calf tear and expected to face the Titans.
Bird is a strong believer he is at his best playing at No.13 and said the personal challenge from Griffin was warranted after a slow start following pre-season knee surgery.
"I haven't been playing too well the first few games. He wanted me to find myself again and find my groove," Bird said.
"There's no excuses but coming off that knee injury, you lose a bit of confidence and a bit of match fitness. It took me a while to get it back.
"On the weekend was probably the first time I felt myself again and felt good.
"At this place we try and strive for the best. He challenged me to try and find that again.
"I feel like I've got the full confidence in my knee again and hopefully I can stick with that going forward."
For all their woes and the pressure on Griffin, the Dragons are still 10th with an even win-loss record.
It's a point supported by Bird's teammate Jack de Belin.
"That's what we were saying after the (Dolphins) game. We are 2-2," said de Belin.
"(The critics) are saying crisis meetings and everything as if the world is going to end.
"We knew what we have here and the talent we've got. It's just a matter of putting the product out on the field and believing in what we do.
"I've been in some teams where we have started red-hot and then through the middle of the year we were really poor.
"It is a super long year, there are going to be highs, lows and rough patches. You just have to stay the course."
De Belin will be fit to face the Titans after he got through his first match back from calf issues unscathed.
The middle forward first injured his right calf in a pre-season scrimmage against Manly, then hurt his left while in the rehab squad before aggravating his left again before round three.
"It was just a running issue of calves which had me baffled," he said.
"Because I have never done a soft-tissue injury before. Hopefully that's the end of it."
