Anthony Griffin believes St George Illawarra can still prove they are a force in 2022 despite being on the verge of their worst start to a season in 14 years.
With just one win from their opening five games, the Dragons will slip to 1-5 for the first time since 2008 if they suffer a fifth straight loss against Newcastle next Sunday.
The Dragons again struggled to complete against South Sydney in Saturday's 24-12 loss, making errors in eight of 14 sets after getting back to 10-6 down early in the second half.
After defeating the Warriors in round one, the Dragons were in a position to shock Penrith the following week before being comprehensively beaten by Cronulla, Parramatta and the Rabbitohs since.
"We're a good side but we're down on confidence and we have to keep going," coach Griffin said.
"We've just got to get ourselves into a position where we play a full 80 minutes and we earn a win. We had an opportunity to do that (against Souths).
"When we do that, we'll win three, four or five, but at the moment we're beating ourselves and learning some tough lessons.
"We're capable of beating anyone. We've just got ourselves into a position where we have to learn and when we do that we'll get what we deserve."
Griffin was adamant his side had shown signs of improvement against Souths, and were only guilty of shooting themselves in the foot in attack.
The Dragons will at least get Tyrell Fuimaono and Josh McGuire back from suspension against the Knights in Wollongong.
Griffin, however, indicated there will be no returns to the starting side for 19-year-old prodigies Tyrell Sloan and Junior Amone after two weeks out.
Fullback Sloan played reserve grade in the Dragons' NSW Cup win over the Rabbitohs on Saturday, while five-eighth Amone played 25 minutes off the bench in the NRL.
"It wasn't the positional change (that hurt against Souths), it was just straight errors," Griffin said.
"(Sloan) has responded really well. When the time is right and his form is right in those areas, he will get his chance.
"The thing with him and Junior is we put them in there last year straight out of the under-19s.
"They haven't played a lot of football against men other than the NRL and that is a credit to them.
"But I just want to make sure they learn and get the right education, and sometimes that's not in first grade."
