South Sydney's Lachlan Ilias took his first steps out of Adam Reynolds's shadow, but St George Illawarra proved too sharp to break a 10-year Charity Shield drought.
The Dragons beat South Sydney 16-10 in their traditional NRL trial match, relying on some late stifling defence to sneak the win in Mudgee, despite scoring four tries to the Rabbitohs' two.
Ilias was confident at halfback for the Rabbitohs as the 2021 grand finalists begin the post-Wayne Bennett era under Jason Demetriou.
But it was the free-wheeling Dragons — headed by flying winger Cody Ramsey and young five-eighth Talatau Amone — who made the biggest statement.
Ramsey somehow stuck out his right hand to plant the ball for the first try of the match with the rest of his body hanging well outside the sideline.
Still catching his breath from his aerial antics, the winger was put into space by fullback Tyrell Sloan to send Jack Bird over.
That try came after an audacious cross-field chip from Ben Hunt found a flying Sloan — who had swapped positions with Ramsey — as the Dragons chanced their arm.
Rookie halfback Ilias then showed why the club thinks he can fill the departed Reynolds's boots, kicking just the second 20-40 in NRL history to get the Rabbitohs out of trouble.
Jaxson Paulo scored from the ensuing set of six before the Dragons were at it again.
They peppered the right side this time, Zac Lomax stepping inside two men before a sensational backhand flick pass handed Mikaele Ravalawa a simple try.
Lomax missed all three kicks though, while an unconverted Cody Walker try made it 12-10 to the Dragons at the break.
Mathew Feagai scored the only try of the second half, two others going begging as Amone's footwork kept the Rabbitohs guessing.
AAP/ABC
