The St George Illawarra Dragons have recorded their fourth-straight win following their 35-10 defeat of the Manly Sea Eagles at Lottoland on Saturday afternoon.
It didn't take long for the Dragons to make a dent on the scoreboard when skipper Gareth Widdop capitalised on Manly's failure to get to dummy-half by swooping up the free ball and scoring in the third minute.
Widdop's fourth try of the year saw him hit yet another milestone when he racked up his 600th career point.
Dragons centre Euan Aitken celebrated his return from a hamstring injury and his 50th NRL game when he crashed over the white stripe in the ninth minute.
Aitken made it a double when he powered his way past opposite centre Brian Kelly to score a long-range try in the 17th minute.
Manly winger Jorge Taufua's try two minutes from half-time proved the only lowlight in the first half as the Red V headed into the sheds up by 10 points.
Razzle dazzle from Dragons halfback Josh McCrone allowed for lock Jack de Belin to score the first try in the second stanza in the 46th minute, while a Widdop penalty goal five minutes later pushed the Dragons' advantage out to 18.
Widdop's 12-point haul saw him reach another feat thereafter, with him now the second-highest pointscorer in St George Illawarra history – overtaking Mark Riddell.
Kurt Mann scored his first try of the year for the Dragons in the 63rd minute, though Taufua responded with his second try five minutes later.
A Widdop field goal and his second try of the afternoon – to round out his 19-point haul – in the final two minutes capped off the 19-point win, the Dragons first at Lottoland since 2008.
St George Illawarra Dragons 35 (Euan Aitken 2, Gareth Widdop 2, Jack de Belin, Kurt Mann tries; Gareth Widdop 5 goals; Gareth Widdop field goal) defeated Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 10 (Jorge Taufua 2 tries; Dylan Walker goal) at Lottoland. Crowd: 11,654. Half-time: Dragons 16-6.
