The hunger is still there, Jamie Soward is not a crock and the players are unified under a coach they totally respect - the Dragons are either in denial or the critics are reading far too much into their dramatic form slump.
Ahead of their season-shaping clash with likely minor premiers Melbourne at AAMI Park on Friday night, the Saints put on a united front on Tuesday to dispel rumours of player unrest and a lack of desire.
The premiers have just two wins from the last 10 matches, dropping from first to fifth spot on the table.
But the players insist it is not crisis time and that they still have the energy and motivation to push for a second straight premiership.
"It's just an excuse to say we're mentally drained," winger Jason Nightingale declared after a sharp training session in Wollongong.
"How can you be mentally drained from success? It's a mental thing obviously, but whether it's tired ... I don't think so."
"We just have to get back to the things that have been working for us, it's not a massive change."
"It's just little things. It's attitude at different times (and) consistency over longer periods - as you see in games when we get out to leads we let them back in."
"It's just the old cliche - playing for 80 minutes - and we haven't been doing that, and if we were we wouldn't have lost a game the last four weeks."
Five-eighth Soward has worn the bulk of criticism for his poor run of form since the State of Origin series finished, a back problem leaving him a virtual passenger at various times in recent weeks.
Even Bennett, the seven-time premiership winner, has not escaped the flak.
The soon-to-be-departed Dragons mentor is being blamed by some fans for not caring enough amid talk players are growing unhappy on his watch.
But veteran centre Matt Cooper believes Bennett is the perfect man to lead a revival.
"Obviously he's our leader. He's been there before and done it all before," he said.
"We've got confidence in Wayne that he'll guide us through this."
"I think we'll get through this."
As for Soward, Cooper said: "Jimmy's had a sore back but he trained really well today, so I'm tipping he's 100 per cent."
"He's a big boy, he can handle the criticism. He's a great player and a big part of our side."
The Dragons can slip as low as seventh if beaten by Storm but Cooper is banking on the competition leaders bringing the best out in his under-performing side.
"It's our biggest game all year. Three weeks before the semi-finals and we're playing a side that's been great all year," he said.
"We're excited about that. If we do win, we'll get our season back on track."