KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Warriors' playoffs hopes hang in the balance with two National Rugby League rounds to go after they lost 6-34 to St George Illawarra at Wollongong today.
The Dragons, who dominated possession, scored six tries to one, with centre Matt Cooper and winger Josh Morris each getting a double, to consolidate their own semifinals ambitions and remain in seventh spot.
But the Warriors, who had never won at WIN Stadium in five previous attempts, dropped to 10th, and could fall one place lower if Penrith upset Melbourne tomorrow night.
The result was a big disappointment for the Warriors, who tried to run around the Dragons out wide rather the go more up the middle.
The defeat came after an impressive run in recent weeks when they claimed the scalps of high fliers Melbourne, Brisbane and Cronulla.
For the Dragons, stalwarts Mark Gasnier and Jason Ryles were making possibly their last appearance at WIN Stadium before heading to France and each played a key part in the victory.
Between them, they had a hand in most of the home side's tries, with Ryles being named man-of-the-match and Gasnier also landing five of six attempts at goal.
Playing into the wind, the Dragons opened the scoring in the 18th minute on the back a penalty that gave them good field position.
From the ensuing possession, Cooper cut back to run on to a Ben Hornby pass and dot down under the crossbar.
Gasnier added the conversion and he was involved again as the Dragons went further head four minutes later.
After the Warriors conceded a scrum deep in their own territory, the Dragons worked the ball out to Gasnier, whose pass to Morris gave the winger space to step inside two defenders and score.
Down 0-10, the Warriors hit back minutes later with a superb try set up by Sam Rapira, who had only just come off the bench.
Rapira's excellent late offload sent Wade McKinnon through a gap to score.
Michael Witt added the goal and the Warriors then continued a brief period of dominance that suggested a swing in momentum.
But with seven minutes to go in the half, the Dragons regained the initiative, with their New Zealand fullback Jason Nightingale creating the opening with a break.
Cooper finished off the move, his second converted try taking the home side out to a 16-6 halftime lead.
The Warriors almost struck back early in the second half as McKinnon, again released by Rapira, and Simon Mannering were pulled down short of the line.
But it was the Dragons who added to their tally when they kept the ball alive during a sustained period of attack before Ryles' short ball sent Dean Young over beside the goalposts.
Two late tries blew out the scoreline, Gasnier's fine offload creating Morris' second, before a Gasnier flick pass produced a try for Nightingale.
- NZPA
