"I'm happy to be here, Australia's the country I always wanted to play in," Franklin told The Age's Stephen Howell.

"I like playing over here in Australia because it suits my game.

"I can get out in the open court and play and also just have fun. Europe is kind of more structured."

Franklin was in the crowd last night for the Dragons debut pre-season hit-out against the Cairns Taipans, where former Kings teammate Shane Heal pulled on a Dragons jeresy for the first time.

"(Heal is) just like me — he's feisty, he's fiery and he also wants to win," Franklin added.