'Haven't hit the mark': Frank Fa'asuamaleaui eyes improvement

However, their 50-10 loss in Round 1 to the Sharks, and subsequent - although more competitive - losses to The Dolphins and Cowboys have shown there is still plenty of hard work to be done, especially by their leaders like Fa’asuamaleaui.

“I'm not happy (with my early season form), still finding my feet, it's only early in the year, but definitely not happy with my game,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.

“But still trying, still putting a lot of effort in.

“Just got to polish up the detail side of things with my tackles and my runs and just having variations of that, but that's what the season's for.

“It's a really long season, so I've been working really hard with the boys around me at training and I'll continue to work hard for myself and the team and hopefully I can get better results.

“(My aggression and physicality has been missing) that's what I'm known for, that's what I pride myself on and to not be doing that during the game has been real frustrating for myself and real upsetting too after games that I haven't been doing that for the team.

“I just haven't hit the mark with my role, which has been a little frustrating.

“I think as the year goes on – I started real late in the pre-season with my injuries and didn't get a lot of time with the team – so, I guess that's probably why (my minutes are down to start the season).

“But as I start to earn my role and start nailing my role, I can see my minutes going up.

“At the moment the boys that are on the bench have been coming on and changing the game a lot and it's been good for them to go out there and get their minutes up and see them change the game and play real well.

“I think for me it's my actions speak louder than words, especially at times like this where I haven't been getting my job done properly.

“I think if I'm doing my job on the field and leading with my actions, everything else will rise too.

“I've missed out the last three games and I've acknowledged that to everyone around me and I've just got to get it right this week to make sure that I lift the standards right now.

While disappointed for the fans and the team about the recent results, Fa’asuamaleaui vowed to “get a win” for Hannay, who the Maroons and Kangaroos representative said had been doing everything right by the team since coming on board. 

“I think that's probably what hurts the most is that you've got someone [Hannay] that cares so much that has made such big moves in this club with a short amount of time that you just want to repay them with a win," Fa'asuamaleaui said. 

“I was just talking to him about it, I was like, ‘oh, we'll get a win for you soon coach’, and hopefully this weekend.

“But we've just got to nail the details and our jobs and the rest will look after itself.

“Hopefully we can for him because he means a lot to us."

With the Dragons also on the hunt for their opening victory of 2026, Fa'asuamaleaui said the team knew it would be a challenge to turn things around.

“Big team, physical team and if we don't match it and be smart, they can roll teams, so … I've got to get my physicality right and lead from the front of my actions and play smart too instead of just going on the teeth with them," Fa'asuamaleaui said. 

“Just play smart with our football and complete well, we should be alright.

“But if they turn up and we give them the room to be able to be physical over us, that's when they're a good team."