Jacob Liddle has set his sights on becoming an 80-minute hooker at St George Illawarra after starring in his game starting for the NRL club.
Called off the bench and onto start for the first time this season, Liddle scored a try out of dummy-half and laid on another in Saturday night's 38-12 win over the Dolphins.
The 26-year-old is likely to hold his starting spot ahead of utility Moses Mbye against Gold Coast next Sunday, with coach Anthony Griffin stating that Liddle had outplayed the veteran this year.
The former Wests Tigers No.9 played unchanged on rare occasions early in his career, but has never been an 80-minute hooker in the six-again era.
Griffin suggested that at the moment Liddle and Mbye sharing dummy-half duties was working, but it was not out of the question that Liddle could play full games eventually.
"I think I can work to 80 minutes," Liddle said.
"The game has changed a bit, and is a bit faster.
"Early on in the season, the legs are not as used to playing at this speed as they could be. Hopefully, I work my way to that.
"You don't find your match fitness until you play a few games."
Liddle's game at the Dragons remains a work-in-progress, with the hooker regularly darting out of dummy-half on Saturday evening and not having any support with him.
"The boys will get used to it," Liddle said.
"They will see the signs when I am going to go. I am still new to the club."
Regardless, he is certain he plays his best football as a starting hooker.
"I love starting, so I want to try and work my way to stay there," Liddle said.
"It's a bit of a different role. I still want to get into the game early and run where I can.
"The goal was to keep running when there is one marker or they're not square, and give the ball to the boys that needed it."
The Dragons have another call to make at five-eighth, after Talatau Amone was steady on his return to the team following off-field issues.
Jayden Sullivan is expected to be fit to try and reclaim the No.6 jersey next week after a shoulder injury, with Griffin set to make a call on the pair.
"We'll worry about that on Monday or Tuesday," Griffin said.
"(Amone) was really good for his first game.
"He really added something to us tonight. He and Ben combined really well for their first game together of the year.
