The St George Illawarra Dragons National Youth Competition team were 46-14 victors over Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park on Sunday.
The Young Dragons scored nine tries to earn an opening round win with fullback Matt Dufty notching four tries in the sunny encounter.
Co-Head Coaches Ben Hornby and Dean Young opted to standby their line-up announced midweek meaning both Thomas Freebairn and Shannon Crook were dropped from the extended bench.
The Young Dragons started on the back-foot and found themselves four-points down when Tigers winger Tom Satterthwaite charged down the flank to score three minutes in.
However, the homeside asserted themselves on their opposition and prized the equaliser through fullback Matt Dufty’s dash down the left-flank ten minutes later.
Dragons hooker Hayden McCrae converted to make it 6-4.
Dragons five-eighth Drew Hutchison broke the visitors defence after a scrum 30 metres out from the Tigers line, before winger Brent Anderson crossed the chalk for a four pointer in the 24th minute.
Dutfy broke the line on the halfhour mark and sprinted to the line to put another four points on the board.
Addin Fanua-Blake went over in the 36th minute but was ruled held-up by the on field referee.
It only took the hosts a minute to regather and send Dufty over for his third try of the match to make it a hat-trick.
Dragons centre Sitiveni Mocidreke successfully converted to take the score to 20-4.
Seconds after the halftime break saw Dragons prop Wes Lolo break the line before a quick pass to winger Izaac Thompson diving over the line for the four points.
Moceidreke took the conversion to make it 26-4.
Tigers winger Satterthwaite went over for his second try in the 45th minute to take the visitors score to eight.
Dragons halfback Adam Clune was placed on report for a high tackle on Satterthwaite as he went over for the try.
The 54th minute proved favourable for the visitors when Tigers centre Nathan Milone crossed the line for a try.
Tigers lock Matthew Woods was successful in his conversion putting another two points on the board to make it 26-14.
Dragons crossed the line in the 65th minute putting another four points to take their score to 30.
Moceidreke took the kick and it looked like it would slip through the posts sweetly but met an upright to rebound leaving scores unchanged.
Four minutes later Thompson put a quick four points on the scoreboard in his second try to give the homeside a 20 point advatantage.
Dragons centre Sitiven Moceidreke took the kick from the eastern sideline but the ball swung wide to leave scores at 34-14.
It took the homeside only three minutes to continue to assert their dominance with a sprinting try from utility Euan Aitken.
Moceidreke took the kick to make it 40-14.
Dufty proved his worth at fullback when he broke the Tigers line to cross the chalk for a try with a minute on the clock.
McRae successfully converted from in front of the goal posts to give the Dragons a 46-14 victory.
St George Illawarra Dragons 46 defeated Wests Tigers 14.
St George Illawarra Dragons 46. Tries: Dufty (4), Thompson (3) Anderson, Aitken. Goals: McCrae (3/5), Mocidreike (2/4).
Wests Tigers 14. Tries: Satterthwaite (2), Milone. Goals: Woods (1/3).
