Nati knows Dragons halves need to find their mojo fast

St George Illawarra five-eighth Kimiora Nati won't panic ahead of the vital clash against the Warriors but concedes an improvement in the halves is required to turn last week's loss around. 

NRL.com panellist Brett Kimmorley told NRL Teams this week that Nati and Maddie Studdon needed to "go and have a coffee together" after it looked like the pair struggled to combine on the field.

Nati had the services of Broncos playmaker Ali Brigginshaw last year but needs to gel quickly with Studdon if the Dragons are to have any chance of advancing to the NRLW grand final.

"It was our first time together, there's only little things we need to fix up," Nati told NRL.com.

"We'll link up better and get our combinations right. We're trying to learn on the run but when I played with Ali last year she controlled everything.

"The Broncos just wanted it more and we'll be better for the experience."

There was no such issue for Warriors halves Charntay Poko and Timaima Ravisa, who linked well to lead their side to a 16-12 win over the Roosters in round one.

Nati knows Poko's game well having teamed up at international level for the Cook Islands.

"She's got a mean kicking game and is a good ball-player," Nati said.

"We'll need to shut down and limit her kicking ability. There are a lot of halves coming through the Kiwi Ferns system and she was really good in the Test match against Samoa earlier in the year as well."

Nati, who suffered a ruptured ACL playing for the Kiwi Ferns last October, was judged best on ground in the 2018 NRLW grand final when she was playing for the Broncos.

She moved to Brisbane over the summer to undergo rehabilitation with the Broncos before then shifting to the Dragons for the second season.  

Nati makes a rare visit to her native New Zealand this weekend and can't wait to run out at Mt Smart Stadium in front of family and friends. 

"I can't wait to go home and see some family and play in front of them," Nati said.

"They all like the Warriors over there so they'll have to jump on the red bandwagon."