No Wendell, no problem, say Dragons

ST GEORGE Illawarra is replacing the retired Wendell Sailor with even performances across the board, according to Dragons winger Jason Nightingale.<br><br>Sailor retired at the end of the 2009 season after driving the Dragons’ push for the minor premiership.<br><br>His former side has made a perfect start to the new season, notching wins over Parramatta, Canterbury and North Queensland, and Nightingale said it had been a truly even effort.<br><br>“These days it’s still all about Wendell…I think it’s always going to be. You turn on the tele and you’ll see his big face,” Nightingale told Bigpond Sports Weekend on Saturday.<br><br>“(But) it’ a great team dynamic we have down there and I think all the boys are putting in good performances.<br><br>“There’s no bouts of individual brilliance keeping us in games, it’s everyone pitching in their bit and working for each other.”<br><br>The Dragons ran out 33-8 winners against North Queensland on Friday night, with their vaunted defence again in fine form. In attack, Brett Morris, Matt Cooper and Nightingale were all on the board with his first-half tries.<br><br>After playing a variety of roles in 2009, Nightingale said he was enjoying a permanent switch to his preferred position.<br><br>“It’s just about a more comfortable position out on the wing, where I played most of my first grade,” the New Zealand representative winger said.<br><br>“I played in the forwards, the backs, a bit of everything. I really enjoyed last year and learning about different positions.”<br><br>While Nightingale settles into a rhythm, Dragon Matt Prior continues to prove a versatile weapon for St George Illawarra.<br><br>“He’s got good athleticism, strength and power and can fill in anywhere you need him,” Nightingale said.<br><br>“It’s obviously awesome to have someone with his versatility in the team. I’ve played with him for a few years now through the lower grades and he’s always been that player that can do a bit of everything.”