WENDELL SAILOR concedes it is going to take another week or two before he is ready to play for the Dragons but after scoring two tries in a triumphant comeback at Shellharbour on Saturday night, the 33-year-old dual international declared: "I've still got it".

While clearly rusty after serving a two-year ban for cocaine use, Sailor finished his return match in the Jim Beam Cup as the hero of the Marlins' 30-22 win over Erina by crossing for the final two tries to help them overcome a 22-0 half-time deficit.

"I think I've still got it - there's a lot of work to do yet to get back in the top grade but I think it's a good down-payment on where I want to go in the next few weeks," Sailor said of his first performance in league for more than seven years after quitting the NRL to sign with the Australian Rugby Union in 2002. "I think I'm about another week or two away yet."

Asked what had gone through his mind as he was being cheered from the ground by the crowd of about 3000 at Ron Costello Oval, Sailor said: "The first thing was that it's great for my family, who have supported me through all of this.

"Secondly, I thought, 'Yeah, I've still got it'. And the third thing was just a bit of relief, because I think you do question yourself sometimes. It was just good to get back and play footy.

"I know when I scored the first try I just said that was a bit of redemption for myself. The second one was just a bit of icing on the cake."

Aside from the two tries, Sailor also made a long break down his right wing in the first half that had fans tooting their car horns, but his involvement was otherwise limited mostly to dummy half runs and hit-ups from scrums.

"It was good, I liked it. I like getting hit and I like making hits," he said. "It was good to get that confrontation and that body contact. I never thought I'd say this but I missed that and it was good to be involved."

With his wife, Tara, and their children, Tristan and Matisse, on hand to watch his comeback, Sailor dedicated his performance to them.

"It was great because of the pressure I've put them under the last couple of years. It's been tough some days but I know that they were glad that I came back and played and regardless of whether it's with the Dragons or wherever it is, this is my first steps towards redemption."