Wayne Bennett knows a thing or two about timing.

After all, you don't win six rugby league premierships in 21 years without knowing how and when to get it right.

So when the new St George Illawarra coach says everything has been "spot on" in the Dragons' pre-season preparations, you know the red and whites are set for a big year.

"I had no idea where they would be at this stage of the year," he said.

"The only thing we could control was their fitness levels and all the work they've done up until now and that's been absolutely spot on. We are really happy with that.

"We will pick the best 17 players in the club (for round one) and also pick the fittest. There's nobody who won't be available for selection. They're all good signs for us."

Bennett is the man hailed as the saviour of a club which has produced more disappointments than highlights since merging 10 years ago.

For years the Dragons roster was the envy of NRL clubs but the trophy cabinet remained bare.

Bennett is here to change all that.

In his two decade tenure in Brisbane not once did the Broncos miss the finals.

They played in seven grand finals - winning six.

He is the most successful coach in league history and knows better than anybody how to get the best out of each and every individual player.

But the 59-year-old coach is not the only new arrival to Wollongong - he has brought in some heavy cavalry.

Star recruits Jeremy Smith (Melbourne), Luke Priddis (Penrith), Darius Boyd (Brisbane), Neville Costigan and Michael Weyman (both Canberra) all joined on the back of his signing and bring skill, power and leadership to a pack that has lost stalwart Jason Ryles (Catalans).

Most importantly, Smith, Priddis and Boyd bring invaluable premiership winning experience, joining ex-Wallaby Wendell Sailor in the `been there done that' club.

Bennett is adamant the raft of changes he has executed, both in the playing roster and new coaching staff who followed him from Brisbane, has improved the culture within the club.

He has hardened the soft underbelly in his bid to turn pretty into gritty.

His changes will be tested within the first month of the NRL season, starting with a difficult opener against heavyweights Melbourne at Olympic Park.

The Dragons are notoriously bad in the opening weeks of the NRL season, averaging just one win from their first six games for the past four seasons, but Bennett says those slow starts are a thing of the past.

"I'm not really aware of it, I haven't worried myself too much about their past," said Bennett.

"I'm only worried about their present and their future.

"We have changed a lot of things there and it's not the St George of old.

"What happened in the past happened and we've got a formidable month in front of us and formidable season so there's no guarantees we will get what we want either but right now I know everything has been done properly and I'm confident.

"We know where we are going and what we are trying to achieve."

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