First-year captain Ben Creagh had a novel approach to turning around St George Illawarra’s early NRL season stumble – a media ban, but not the type you’d think.

As the Dragons withstood a wave of heavy criticism after going winless from their opening three games, Creagh helped shield the team’s youngsters by telling them to get their heads out of the papers.

With coach Steve Price under increasing pressure to earn a new contract, the Dragons produced a spirited upset of local rivals Cronulla to open their account last weekend.

And according to Creagh it came down to shutting out the bad vibes.

“It was pretty easy for me, I’m an older guy. I’ve been there before when I was younger and I’ve learnt that just about everyone has opinions, but lot of them don’t matter,” Creagh told AAP.

“The only opinions that matter are the guys at the club, the coaches and the players here to get us through the tough times.

“I was more worried about the younger guys and I tried to get that through to them.

“I think the guys started to get the picture that it’s not the best idea to be sticking your head in a newspaper or watching rugby league shows during the week when you are having tough times because a lot of the content in those shows and the paper is about our club.”

The Dragons face an even tougher test at home on Sunday when they do battle with former coach Wayne Bennett and his in-form Newcastle Knights.

Based around the NRL’s fourth-stingiest defence, Bennett has crafted the Knights into a Dragons-clone this year.

Creagh was quick to heap praise on two former teammates who have added steel to the Newcastle pack.

“They’re a quality forward pack. The guys they’ve bought, (former Dragons) Jeremy Smith, Beau Scott have been playing well for them,” Creagh said.

“It’ll be a tough test for us – it always is against Newcastle.”

Creagh will not have to worry about Scott, who will miss up to three months after having surgery on a troublesome groin injury last week.