The good news for Dragons fans is that Paul McGregor and Tyson Frizell have publicly guaranteed the star back-rower's immediate future in the red V.
The bad news is that St George Illawarra have bigger problems.
The Dragons' season will go on the line when they meet South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, with a loss to all-but confirm St George Illawarra will miss the NRL finals.
St George Illawarra look likely to need to win at least six, possibly all seven, of their remaining fixtures just to reach the post season. If they fail, it will be the sixth time in the last eight seasons and third time in four years under McGregor that the Dragons have missed the finals.
The Dragons slumped to a third straight loss in their 40-18 drubbing at the hands of Penrith on Friday night to see them remain in 14th place on the table, four points outside the top eight.
They need to overhaul at least six teams on the run home if they are to play September football.
Frizell took the opportunity after the loss to the Panthers to deny rumours he had requested a release from his contract. The NSW and Australia representative is contracted to the Dragons until the end of 2020 with suggestions he was unhappy at the club and looking for an exit.
"Obviously there's been some rumours circling around about my future at the club. And for me nothing has changed," Frizell said.
"I'm here until the end of 2020. As long as I'm welcome at the club I'll be here until then. All those rumours that have been tossed around are very false."
McGregor reiterated Frizell's statement having spoken to the 27-year-old's manager on the morning of the loss to Penrith.
"[He] said it couldn't be further from the truth. He said while ever I'm coaching he's here and he's got another year to run on his contract," McGregor said.
"Me and Tyson have been together for 130 games and I've seen him develop [from] a young man into a father, into a good married life. And someone who went from being a fringe player to the most decorated player in our side as an Australian player. Our relationship goes way back."
McGregor indicated he would make forced and unforced changes to his side for the Rabbitohs clash with Gareth Widdop (shoulder) and Zac Lomax (thumb) to return from injury.
"I think it's a compounding thing with a bit of self belief and a bit of doubt. A bit of trust at different stages with people that you're with out there," McGregor said after the Penrith defeat.
"It does break your heart. It hurts. Obviously it hurts for our supporters, it hurts for the coach, it hurts some players. But attitude is something that, the greatest power that a player has is to choose what sort of attitude you have. And it's valuable to your footy team. And you've got to have it when everything is going well and you've got to have it at tough times. At the moment when times are tough we've got to have a better attitude.
"I don't take things personally. I understand when a team is not performing the way we need to at the moment.
"We've had above-level distractions and no element of luck during the year and we haven't had our real strongest 17 on but we shouldn't beaten by scores we've been beaten by the last couple of weeks. So I understand that.
"As the coach I'm the leader so aim up on me and leave my players alone a little bit. But at the end of the day I'm here so we've got to do something about it as a group."
