WHEN the NRL draw is released for a new season there are two games that always capture the Dragons' players attention.
They are the twice-yearly derbies against the Cronulla Sharks.
In the St George region and Sutherland Shire this week the focus is firmly on Sunday, May 31, at 4pm at Jubilee Oval, Kogarah.
That's when the Dragons and Sharks meet for the first time in 2015.
The NSW and Queensland State of Origin series opener has taken a back seat.
The second encounter between the Dragons and Sharks this year is Sunday, July 12, at 4pm, at Remondis Stadium.
"It doesn't matter where each team is on the competition table, the derbies are always big games," Nightingale said.
Nightingale, 28, has played 187 games for the Dragons, he debuted against Penrith on May 4, 2007.
He has played in plenty of derbies and been on both the winning side and the losing side of the ledger.
The New Zealand and Dragons winger will line up against two former teammates on Sunday. Matt Prior and fellow Kiwi Gerard Beale are in the Sharks team.
"Gerard and I are good mates, we both live in the Sutherland Shire and we played together at the Dragons and also in the Kiwis Test teams," Nightingale said. "Matt and I played together in the 2010 grand final winning team at the Dragons."
Dragons second-rower Tyson Frizell is also a former Sharks player.
Nightingale understands there is always an intense feeling in the games.
"You don't talk about it too much at training but you know there is something different as you prepare during the lead-up to the derbies," he said.
While he is negotiating for a new contract for season 2016 and beyond, he said the goal is to help the Dragons keep performing well.
They are third on 16 points and right in finals contention after missing the play-offs the past three seasons.
"My focus is playing well for the Dragons and concentrating on my footy and for the team," he said.
"I want to be a one club man and I am negotiating for a new contract."
"My attention is preparing for the game against the Sharks this Sunday."
Dragons management are promoting the derby for fans to dress in red so Jubilee Oval, Kogarah, is decked out in a sea of red this Sunday.
DRAGONS
Josh Dugan, Eto Nabuli, Euan Aitken, Peter Mata’utia, Jason Nightingale, Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall, Leeson Ah Mau, Mitch Rein, Mike Cooper, Tyson Frizell, Joel Thompson, Trent Merrin. Interchange: Heath L’Estrange, Ben Creagh, Jack de Belin, Will Matthews, Jake Marketo
