The Dragons, despite all the off-season buys, played exactly like last year and the year before under coach Steven Price.
The 2010 premiers were well out of the game at 38-4 down when Souths started thinking about their season opener against the Roosters and went into preservation mode.
Souths were clearly vastly superior in both attack and defence, with the Dragons producing all the basic errors which made them cellar dwellers last year.
Souths finished up their scoring after Josh Dugan split a John Sutton bomb and from the ensuing set the Rabbitohs capitalised through George Burgess who barged over from close range, injuring Dugan in the process.
As the match drew to an end, Adam Quinlan, who was brought on as Dugan’s replacement, scored a try.
New recruit Peter Mata’utia also showed some dash and managed two tries to bring the score to 38-20, but the fulltime result flattered the Dragons.
Star fullback Josh Dugan was carried from the field in the second half with a knee injury. Dugan will have scans on Monday.
South Sydney’s superstar Greg Inglis also failed to finish the match after a head knock but is ok. Five-eighth Dylan Walker will be monitored after feeling a twinge in his hamstring.
The St George supporters in the 14,633 crowd left WIN Stadium fearing a long cold season ahead, while Souths got what they came for, a solid trial win to prepare them for the first round of the NRL.
The Dragons need to have a close look at themselves in the two weeks before their opening game against fellow cellar dwellers the Tigers.
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All the team list information for Round 9.
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