St George Illawarra players have vowed to make the finals for Kyle Flanagan, as the banned five-eighth begins his long wait to return to the NRL.
The Dragons confirmed the signing of Queensland centre Valentine Holmes on Thursday, on a three-year deal after an early release from the Cowboys.
But the more immediate focus in Wollongong is on Flanagan.
The 25-year-old was back at Dragons training on Thursday, 36 hours after being found guilty of biting by the NRL judiciary and copping a four-match ban.
The Dragons remain frustrated over the decision, verbalising their disappointment after the hearing with Flanagan still adamant he did not bite Stephen Crichton.
He is currently on 99 NRL games played and his suspension means any return to the field this season to bring up the 100-game milestone is in the hands of his Dragons teammates, with four rounds left and the Saints in ninth.
Flanagan admitted in the hearing he was "shattered" to be told of the biting allegation, and the Dragons are determined to make sure he get to play again this year.
"You would be (shattered), it is obviously disappointing for himself," forward Jack de Belin said.
"He was just about to play his 100th game as well. So I am sure that would have added a bit of extra sting to it.
"The best way to get over these things is to keep training hard and be ready to go. Hopefully we won't let him down and make the finals for him.
"He has been a big part of the team all year and had played every single game until this point.
"It is disappointing for him, but at the same time it is motivating for us players to rip in and make sure we make the finals."
Dragons players said Flanagan cut a more positive figure by the time he returned to training on Thursday.
Jack Bird is favoured to take his spot in the halves against Gold Coast on Sunday, while uncapped teenager Lyhkan King-Togia is another option.
"He is our five-eighth and losing our five-eighth for four weeks, out of any team, is not ideal," prop Blake Lawrie said.
"It's getting to the crunch end of the season and it's disappointing.
"Kyle is good. He was the first to come to training. It's rough what happened. First and foremost have to check on his wellbeing.
"Hopefully we win the next four games and we play finals footy and hopefully he gets the opportunity to play his 100th game."
Sunday's clash against the Titans marks the beginning of a season-defining month for the Dragons with Cronulla, Parramatta and Canberra to come.
Victories in three of those games will almost certainly be enough to return them to the finals for the first time since 2018, while two wins could also potentially be enough.
"We pretty much have to win more than we lose. It's pretty simple," de Belin said.
"This time last year we were nowhere near playing finals, we were fighting to not get the wooden spoon.
"We're in a much better position and our destiny lies in our hands.
"You can be happy without being satisfied, which is where we're at."
