By Jack Brady (NRL.com)
After an eight-game layoff, St George-Illawarra forward Tyson Frizell's return to the NRL has been a welcomed boost for the Dragons leading into the pointy end of the season.
In what has been an injury-wretched season for the 22-year-old, foot and syndesmosis injuries restricted him to just 12 games in his first season at the club.
Frizell denied that his early-year move to the front-row hindered his health, but admitted he shouldn't have played through some injuries.
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"I was a bit unlucky there with my injuries towards the start of the season which I played on with, which probably was the wrong thing to do in retrospect, and that sort of took its toll on me," Frizell tells NRL.com.
With three must-win games remaining and his injury concerns behind him, he is now focused on going deep into September after a solid outing against Canberra last weekend.
"Now that I'm back in the team though we have to come into each week thinking that we need to win every game from here on in," he said.
"A few results went our way with the Cowboys and Warriors losing [last weekend] but if we win our final three games then the rest will look after itself."
While it came to breaking a 15-year hoodoo in the nation's capital for the Red V to keep their season alive, they are still precariously placed at 11th on 24 points.
The Warriors, Cowboys and Eels sit ahead on 26 points, as well as the Broncos faring better on point's differential, the Dragons will be relieved in knowing they have the relatively easiest draw compared to others vying for a finals berth - a fate they were unlikely to achieve midway through the season.
Frizell credit the honesty of coach Paul 'Mary' McGregor to their gradual improvement.
"[Mary] has tried to bring the best out of everyone and make us play together as a team. I think it is fair to say that he puts everyone on notice which has... worked out well on the field," he said.
"He gives you confidence. When you do the wrong thing he'll be sure to tell you and if you're doing the right thing then he'll praise you.
"He has giving me a bit more direction in what I need to work on and on the other things I'm doing well too."
With the Gold Coast Titans to come on Sunday afternoon, Frizell believes it is just a matter of playing to their strengths especially after their shocking performance against Penrith a fortnight ago.
The Titans may have bid adieu to their finals chances after losing to Manly last weekend, but will certainly pose a threat considering the Red V snuck away with a one point win the last time they met in Round 15.
"We will be busting their balls to get the two points this weekend," Frizell said.
"They have been good in patches and we have been in the same boat as them really. We're just focusing on ourselves and what we need to do right."
