Dragons 48
Sea Eagles 18
St George Illawarra brushed aside the absence of seven first team regulars to thump premiers Manly at WIN Stadium and continue their charge toward the NRL minor premiership.
The Dragons reaffirmed their grip on top spot with an eight-tries-to-three demolition of last year's title-winning team.
Manly's loss of four players to Origin commitments plus Jamie Lyon and Brett Stewart to injury was not helped by an afternoon of handling errors.
Even so they were only down 30-18 and still in the contest until Dragons halfback Jamie Soward took his personal tally to 20 points with a try 13 minutes from time and his team went on with the job as Wendell Sailor and Brett Morris finished with try doubles.
The Dragons' win was even more impressive given they were without New South Wales Origin forwards Ben Creagh and Justin Poore ahead of Wednesday night's Origin clash in Brisbane.
One man who would love to be there for New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium is Brent Kite, but after being dumped for game three, the Sea Eagles prop made it a week to forget when he knocked on in the second tackle of the match.
The Dragons gave an early insight of what was in store for the Sea Eagles with Michael Lett crossing in the second minute.
The Dragons made it 12-0 in as many minutes when Morris ran 100 metres to score after a Matt Orford kick deflected off the upright.
Manly hit back when reserve forwards George Rose and Vic Mauro sandwiched tries around a Jason Nightingale four-pointer, but the Dragons ensured they had momentum going into the break when Soward ran the ball on the last to set up Sailor's first try.
Manly centre Steve Matai was put on report just before halftime for using a knee in a tackle on Soward, but there was a lot less sting in the visitors' defence when Chase Stanley went over untouched off a sweetly timed Soward ball.
The Sea Eagles threatened a late resurgence when Michael Robertson finished off a tremendous backline movement.
But Soward's try sparked an avalanche of points for the home side with three tries in the final 13 minutes.
- AAP