29/08/2009 10:30 PM
After leading the competition for much of the season, the Dragons' minor premiership hopes have taken a massive hit with their third straight loss - a stunning 41-6 defeat at the hands of the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
For a side with the best defence in the NRL, the Dragons were made to look second-rate by the injury-ravaged Rabbitohs, who were allowed to stroll in tries seemingly at will.
This amazing result hands the Bulldogs an ideal opportunity to take the outright lead of the competition with a win over the lowly Warriors on Sunday.
The first half, like the second, was a calamity for the Dragons, completing just nine of 20 sets and missing a plethora of simple tackles, allowing the Rabbitohs to take a commanding 19-6 lead into the break.
Five-eighth John Sutton and hooker Issac Luke continued to run amok in the second stanza as the hosts posted a further four unanswered tries to complete the most remarkable result of the season and Souths' biggest ever defeat over a Dragons side.
Sutton had the Dragons' fans on edge early when he strolled through some ordinary defence close to the line to claim the opening try of the game in the fifth minute.
The Rabbitohs continued their early dominance in the 18th minute when the silky passing skills of Sutton provided centre Colin Best with a clear run to the line.
Half-back Chris Sandow added his second conversion to give the Bunnies a 12-0 lead.
But lazy Rabbitohs' marker defence would allow the Dragons to open their account, hooker Nathan Fien darting out of dummy-half to set up a 24th minute try for five-eighth Jamie Soward.
The competition leaders had an ideal opportunity to level the scores soon after but winger Brett Morris inexcusably split a Matt Cooper pass with 70m of open space in front of him.
Just two plays later the Rabbitohs were over for their third try, second-rower Ben Lowe strolling through a yawning gap to open up an 18-6 lead for his side.
Sandow finished the first half off with a sneaky field goal to extend the Rabbitohs' lead out to 13 points.
Momentum failed to change after half-time as Souths continued to toy with the once respected Dragons' defence.
Winger Jamie Simpson brushed past Soward and the usually reliable Beau Scott in the 56th minute to edge the Rabbitohs into the safety zone at 25-6 in front.
The procession continued until the full-time siren with full-back Nathan Merritt (61st), Sutton (66th) and second-rower Eddie Pettybourne (73rd) all adding to the damage.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 41
Tries: Sutton 2, Best, B.Lowe, Simpson, Merritt, Pettybourne
Conversions: Sandow 6
Field goals: Sandow
St George Illawarra Dragons 6
Tries: Soward
Conversions: Soward