Less than a fortnight out from their season opener in Las Vegas, a near full-strength St George Illawarra team have suffered a 28-24 Charity Shield defeat at the hands of a second-string South Sydney side.
The Red V face Canterbury in a fortnight's time and will have to up the ante if they are to prove a match for the Bulldogs.
Except for Valentine Holmes, who is expected to be fit for their round-one clash, and hooker Jacob Liddle, Shane Flanagan named his best side for Saturday night's meeting at WIN Stadium.
But, save for a few moments of magic from new halfback Daniel Atkinson, there was little to suggest the Dragons will trouble the Bulldogs on March 1.
Flanagan lost luckless lock Hame Sele to a concussion just 90 seconds into the game.
Sele was diagnosed as a category-one concussion and, providing he passes the NRL's return-to-play protocols, should be clear to line up in Las Vegas.
Sele has missed big chunks of the last two seasons with injury and a heart condition but the early signs were that the Dragons would be able to cover his absence.
Atkinson was lively and made a break down the right to set up Clint Gutherson for the first try of the night with just eight minutes gone.
But the young Rabbitohs side were unfazed and Talanoa Penitani burned Moses Suli to draw the Bunnies level.
Damien Cook responded to re-establish a six-point lead for the Dragons only to then butcher a golden chance for a second.
Cook dropped the ball with the line beckoning after Gutherson and Atkinson had combined for another upfield break.
Then former Dragons man Matt Dufty - back in Australia on a NSW Cup contract with the Bunnies after being shown the door by Super League club Warrington - darted over to make it 12-12 at the break.
But even accounting for the fact they lost halfback Jonah Glover to a broken jaw, the Rabbitohs kept coming at Saints.
Latrell Siegwalt cruised in before Bayleigh Bentley-Hape capitalised on a loose carry from Setu Tu to move Souths out of sight.
A try to Luciano Leilua briefly stemmed the flow before Rabbitohs winger Jordi Mazzone pounced on another Dragons error to wrap up victory for Souths.
Dragons centre Mathew Feagai crossed for a try with three minutes left but it was a case of too little too late.
