The young Dragons have been chased down by the Newcastle Knights in an NYC thriller, going down 30-22 at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle.
The Dragons controlled the first half from the get-go and had their first try in the seventh minute when Hayden Lomax capitalised on a Knights mistake to touch down next to the uprights.
While the Knights scored four minutes later through Matt Cooper, Dragons halfback Jason Willis took it upon himself midway through the first stanza to peg back the lead.
Knights five-eighth Jack Johns equalled the ledger again in the 34th minute, but it was TJ Uele who put the final stamp on the first half when he barged over three minutes from break.
Up 16-12 at half-time, the Dragons were off to an ideal start when five-eighth Tristan Sailor finished off a 60-metre move that also prominently included Jason Gillard.
Unfortunately that would be the final time the Red V would score as the Knights piled on four-consecutive tries.
Knights centre Heath Gibbs scored a double while winger Mitch Andrews and Johns (also his second) rounded out Newcastle's eight-point win.
Newcastle Knights 30 (Heath Gibbs 2, Jack Johns 2, Matt Cooper, Mitch Andrews tries; Jack Johns 3 goals) defeated St George Illawarra Dragons 22 (Jackson Willis, Hayden Lomax, TJ Uele, Tristan Sailor tries; Jackson Willis 3 goals) at McDonald Jones Stadium. Half-time: Dragons 16-12.
