THERE is no point in getting too excited about the Dragons after yesterday's win. The proof, with them, is always about whether they can back it up with consistent performances.

They are well known for coming up with false dawns, and have already registered one this season after round two when they beat the Titans.

The more pressing question to come out of the game is: What is wrong with the Roosters? They went flat in the final stages of their game against Newcastle last Sunday and failed to rise yesterday. This is nothing like the team that won four of its first five games to be the form team in the competition at that stage.

It might not yet be the first crisis Brad Fittler has had to face as Roosters coach, but it is a very real problem. Freddy has enjoyed some ups since he took over during the second half of last season, but now he must deal with his first real down.

The Roosters picked up where they left off against the Knights, when they led 20-12 only to concede four tries in the last 12 minutes and lose 34-20. One would have thought Fittler would have given them a blast after they dropped off so spectacularly towards the end of that game. However, if he did, it didn't show early on yesterday.

Instead of taking the field with steam coming out of their ears and determined to make something happen, the Roosters seemed prepared to let the game come to them. The only problem was that the Dragons - unlike in most of their previous games this season - decide to take it to the opposition with a gung-ho attitude.

The Dragons had a plan, which revolved largely around kicks, and they executed it well. Roosters fullback Sam Perrett was trapped flat-footed under a bomb from five-eighth Jamie Soward, and Dragons halfback Ben Hornby, with the benefit of a mobile start, jumped above him to catch and score. Then a Hornby crossfield kick was taken by centre Josh Morris, who set winger Jason Nightingale up. Two tries in the first six minutes.

It is not unusual for the Dragons to concede an average of two points a minute through some of their dark periods in games, but at 12-0 here they were scoring at that rate.

The Roosters decided to stir from their slumber after that, but while they increased the urgency, their options still weren't great. It took some straight running - by second-rower Anthony Tupou, off an inside ball from five-eighth Braith Anasta - to get them heading in the right direction. But, as comebacks go, it was terribly short-lived and, after cutting the deficit to six points, the Roosters were back down by 12 at half-time.

Surely the break was another good opportunity for Fittler to tell them a few home truths. But, again, if he did, it didn't show in their performance when they came back out.

The Roosters obviously weren't setting the world on fire in terms of creativity, but this had to be more about a poor attitude than a failure to follow the game plan. They just weren't revved up for the occasion.

It wasn't like the Dragons didn't offer the Roosters an invitation to get back into the game. Three times in the first 11 minutes of the second half, the Dragons knocked on inside their own half. But, instead of taking advantage of those mistakes by scoring tries, the Roosters copied their opponents and came up with the game's next two knock-ons themselves.

After the Dragons had scored another try to put the Roosters on the ropes and taking punches, down 24-6, the Roosters chose to finish themselves off. Attacking just a few metres out from the opposition's line and needing to score from that set to have any chance of manufacturing an incredible comeback win, Roosters second-rower Willie Mason, who had been ineffective to that point, continued on that theme by throwing an ill-judged pass out the back in the tackle. The Dragons fell on the ball.

Congratulations to the Dragons. They won well. But let's wait to see if they can back it up before we get carried away with them.