ABC Sport

Posted August 29, 2009 21:40:00

The Dragons have lost to the Raiders, Broncos and Rabbitohs in three straight weeks. (AAP: Grant Trouville)

South Sydney has delivered a massive blow to the Dragons' minor premiership hopes with a 41-6 smashing at Sydney's Olympic stadium.

Despite being ruled out of finals contention weeks ago, the 12th placed Rabbitohs looked a class above their lofty opponents, running in an amazing seven tries to one in one of the upsets of the year.

St George Illawarra has now lost three straight games and will surrender top spot on the ladder if the Bulldogs prevail over New Zealand on Sunday.

With the finals just around the corner, the Dragons have a tough encounter against the red-hot Parramatta in the season's last round next week.

The hulking John Sutton ran riot all night for the Rabbitohs, scoring twice and having a hand in a number of others as St George Illawarra's porous defence was caught wanting.

Issac Luke, Nathan Merritt and Chris Sandow were also instrumental, especially through the middle of the ruck.

The Dragons produced easily their worst performance of the season, completing only 53 per cent of their sets, including only 8 of 19 in a woeful first half, and committing 18 errors.

In contrast, Souths built their play wonderfully on the back of an exemplary 87 per cent completion rate, some smart fifth tackle options and handy support play.

Rabbitohs: 41 (J Sutton 2, C Best, J Lowe, J Simpson, N Merritt, E Pettybourne tries; C Sandow 6/7 conversions, Sandow field goal)

Dragons: 6 (J Soward tries; Soward 1/1 conversion)