South Sydney have slipped into the top four - albeit provisionally - for the first time in three months with a 24-8 victory over St George-Illawarra at a wet SCG.
In the NRL's first game of the year at the historic venue on Saturday night, a hearty crowd of 18,217 watched Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds produce two clutch plays in the final 10 minutes to seal a decisive win.
The Rabbitohs led 12-4 when Josh Dugan crossed in the 69th minute to set up a tense finish.
But Reynolds hit back with an outstanding reflex catch off his own grubber in the 73rd, before the playmaker sealed the win with a kick for Luke Keary in the 77th.
However, the victory could come at a cost, with hooker Cameron McInnes coming off with an ankle injury early in the second half, while winger Aaron Gray was hampered by a hamstring problem.
Rabbitohs centre Dylan Walker opened the scoring when he powered through some flimsy defence to grab an early lead in the 8th minute.
The advantage should've doubled when John Sutton broke into the backfield not long after but Greg Inglis spilt the ball with no pressure on him.
A string of penalties meant the Red V were forced to defend their line for long stretches but they conceded just two points before Benji Marshall produced a trademark no-look cut-out for Justin Hunt just before the break.
The loss means the Dragons fall out of the top eight for the first time since Round 4.
Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire said he was proud of his side's ability to respond to every challenge posed by the Dragons.
"St George had a completion rate up around 94 per cent, so it was a game we had to really stay at," he said.
"We probably gave away a few penalties there, particularly with them coming out of yardage. So we had to stay at it. And I was pleased how the boys did that."
Dragons coach Paul McGregor said he was disappointed with his team's game management in a contest they had every chance of winning.
"With a 12-8 scoreline at the 73-minute mark, we put ourselves in a real good position there," he said.
"But our inability to build pressure and finish off our sets let us down, and that's game management.
"The people out there have got to be better at it than what we were tonight against a quality football team."
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