For a man most had picked to be the first NRL coach sacked in 2014, Steve Price is smiling an awful lot.
For the second week in a row the Dragons mentor delivered a half-time address with subsequent results that can't be questioned.
Two sensational second-half performances in as many weeks have seen the Dragons score 49 points and concede only six – and have them eying a third straight victory next weekend.
"I was very happy with the guys, particularly our goal-line defence in that middle part of the second half. We were under the pump and the boys stood tall – it was a great display," Price said after St George Illawarra's Round 2 win over the Warriors in Auckland.
"To go into half-time at 12-6 down with the amount of field position that the Warriors had, I was quite happy with that. I knew the tide would turn and as you saw we scored 25 points in the second half."
After arriving in Auckland to find the city in the shadows of Cyclone Lusi, the Dragons survived an early onslaught from the Warriors, which included a thorough working over of rookie fullback Adam Quinlan under the high ball.
"We were under no illusions as to what we were coming to at Eden Park today, and we hung tough and got the job done," Price said.
Captain Ben Creagh, who took advantage of a late Glen Fisiiahi error to score one of the easiest tries of his career, said that last week's comprehensive victory over the Tigers had given his side a much-needed boost after a tough 2013.
"We got a lot of confidence out of last week's win – especially our attack," he said.
"It was nice to be able to travel away and back-up our performance."
The Eden Park victory makes it nine in a row for the Dragons over the Warriors, a winning streak that stretches out over an astonishing six years.
"I don't believe in hoodoos – apparently we have one against Canberra and I don't believe in that either," Creagh laughed.
"I know it's been nine in a row, and either travelling over here or playing them at home we seem to have very good performances against them, and we continued to do that today."
