He already shapes as the best buy of 2014 and Dragons teammate Brett Morris has revealed that England international Gareth Widdop took charge from the very first week at his new club.
With his team flying high at the top of the table and an NRL-high five try assists to his name after two games, Widdop has immediately transformed the second-worst attack of 2013 into a potent point-scoring outfit, having racked up 44 and 31 points in wins over the Tigers and Warriors.
It's been a dramatic transformation inspired by a playmaker who for the past four years was forced to play a supporting role to Melbourne champions Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater.
"The first week back of pre-season. He was straight into it," Morris said of Widdop's influence.
"He's a pretty confident kid and obviously coming off the back of the World Cup ... he was a part of that England side, so he was playing footy and playing some good footy over there.
"He brought that into training and from the week one that he came he told the boys what he wanted and how he wanted certain things and the boys have just jumped on board on the back of it."
Such has been the transformation that Matthew Johns was compelled to ask Widdop during an appearance on Sterlo on Fox Sports on Thursday night whether he was even surprised by how well he was going.
The 25-year-old's response was expectedly modest but Morris had no doubt that the Dragons had landed a prize catch when they were able to secure his services.
"We obviously bought Gareth for a reason, he's a quality player," Morris told NRL.com.
"We didn't see a lot of him down in Melbourne because of 'Smithy', Billy and Cooper and he was on the back of that but in his own right he's a wonderful player and he's come to our club and he's absolutely killing it.
"We couldn't ask for anything more from him. He's full of confidence at the moment and he's such a calming figure to have on the field. Players like that usually bring out the best in players around them and that's certainly been happening."
With his team flying high at the top of the table and an NRL-high five try assists to his name after two games, Widdop has immediately transformed the second-worst attack of 2013 into a potent point-scoring outfit, having racked up 44 and 31 points in wins over the Tigers and Warriors.
It's been a dramatic transformation inspired by a playmaker who for the past four years was forced to play a supporting role to Melbourne champions Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater.
Watch the NRL LIVE with a 2-week free trial.
Get the NRL Digital Pass now!
"The first week back of pre-season. He was straight into it," Morris said of Widdop's influence.
"He's a pretty confident kid and obviously coming off the back of the World Cup ... he was a part of that England side, so he was playing footy and playing some good footy over there.
"He brought that into training and from the week one that he came he told the boys what he wanted and how he wanted certain things and the boys have just jumped on board on the back of it."
Get your ticket to NRL Round 3
Widdop accumulated eight try assists in 16 games with the Storm last season and if the Dragons continue their unbeaten run on Saturday night with a win over the Sharks, he may go close to equalling that mark after just three rounds.Such has been the transformation that Matthew Johns was compelled to ask Widdop during an appearance on Sterlo on Fox Sports on Thursday night whether he was even surprised by how well he was going.
The 25-year-old's response was expectedly modest but Morris had no doubt that the Dragons had landed a prize catch when they were able to secure his services.
"We obviously bought Gareth for a reason, he's a quality player," Morris told NRL.com.
"We didn't see a lot of him down in Melbourne because of 'Smithy', Billy and Cooper and he was on the back of that but in his own right he's a wonderful player and he's come to our club and he's absolutely killing it.
"We couldn't ask for anything more from him. He's full of confidence at the moment and he's such a calming figure to have on the field. Players like that usually bring out the best in players around them and that's certainly been happening."
Show your true colours. Become a member of your club.
