NRL: Steady as he goes for Nightingale

Jason Nightingale. Photo / Getty Images

Two tries in the National Rugby League grand final, a decisive hand in the Four Nations-clinching score for the Kiwis - Jason Nightingale enjoyed an unusually high profile at the end of the 2010 rugby league season.

Functional rather than flamboyant, the St George Illawarra winger's consistency and occasional flashes of brilliance even saw Nightingale selected in Rugby League World magazine's team of the year, 18 months after he spent some of his Saturday's turning out for Shellharbour in the NSW Cup.

Nightingale, who debuted for the Dragons in 2007, owed his permanent return to first grade in 2010 to Wendall Sailor's retirement while at international level, Manu Vatuvei's injury woes boosted his test career.

The Sydneysider, who qualifies for New Zealand through his parents, was included in last May's Anzac test team by default when Vatuvei was sidelined with a leg injury.

He justified his promotion with a try in the Kiwis' narrow 12-8 defeat in Melbourne and five months later Nightingale played an integral role in the Four Nations decider - scoring a try and then flinging a hopeful pass in field which led to Nathan Fien's match-winner.

Nightingale savoured those moments at the time but his focus now is on an uncertain future rather than glorious past.

Off contract at the end of 2011 Nightingale is yet to enter negotiations with Dragons management.

Instead Nightingale has started doing his talking on the pitch, in his usual calm, understated way.

The annual Charity Shield trial against South Sydney on Sunday again showcased Nightingale as a dependable presence at the end of a star-studded backline.

He was never blessed with the flair of a Vatuvei or Akuila Uate.

Even Peni Tagive, a Dragons first grader-in-waiting, was more prominent on the opposite flank when he bounced off defenders to score.

Yet Nightingale still performed his core roles in the style that ensured he was an automatic selection during the Dragons long-awaited premiership year.

Nightingale joined playmaker Jamie Soward and second rower Ben Creagh as the busiest and most reliable Dragons, each logging 26 appearances.

Similar involvement in the upcoming campaign is the goal though Nightingale was taking nothing for granted as he strives to top a year that admittedly will take some beating.

"I'm going to try obviously," he told NZPA.

"I'll go in with the same attitude as 2010 and keep working hard.

"Hopefully I'll find some improvements along the way. I'll keep it simple and try to do the things I did last year to help myself and the team."

Despite Soward generally directing the ball to Brett Morris's flank last season Nightingale was still the Dragons' second highest try scorer with 16, including that memorable brace in the grand final victory over the Sydney Roosters.

His defence, safeness under the high ball and work out of dummy half also mark him out as a solid all round performer in a backline that remains virtually intact.

The Dragons sacrificed Kiwis lock Jeremy Smith and former Queensland forward Neville Costigan to fit Mark Gasnier under the salary cap but the class of 2010 remains in the halves, centres and out wide.

"We've been working together for a few seasons now and obviously Gaz (Gasnier) coming back helps things," Nightingale said.

"We're solid and we'll keep working to improve."

He also acknowledged the return from injury of Tagive and the emergence of fullback-cum-wing Bronx Goodwin as potential threats.

"We've got some good young players coming up," said Nightingale, an 84-game veteran at age 24.

Tagive is gunning for a wing berth while Bronx - who scored twice and slotted four goals against Souths -- is the second Goodwin aiming to relegate Nightingale to the periphery.

Two years ago, Goodwin's younger brother Bryson ensured Nightingale was confined to training duties in England and France during the inaugural Four Nations tournament.