Lachlan Ilias made an immediate impression in his first audition to be Adam Reynolds' long-term replacement as South Sydney held off St George Illawarra 20-16.
In a match that could barely be considered a finals warm up with eight Rabbitohs rested, Ilias starred on debut for the Rabbitohs to end the Dragons' sorry NRL season.
St George Illawarra trailed 20-0 with 13 minutes to go, before Tyrell Sloan bagged a double and Mikaele Ravalawa claimed one in the penultimate minute to set up a grandstand finish.
But in a fitting end to their year, the off-contract Corey Norman dropped the ball on the last as he went to put up a Hail Mary bomb with 20 second to play.
The late flurry of points however did little to overshadow the work of Souths' next generation of talent.
With the Brisbane-bound Reynolds among those rested, Ilias scored in just the seventh minute of his debut when he chased through on his own grubber to capitalise on a Ravalawa fumble.
The 21-year-old also kicked nicely when taking pressure off far more experienced halves partner Benji Marshall, and guided a Rabbitohs side missing 1224 matches between them nicely.
Blake Taaffe also looked good in his first game at the back since Latrell Mitchell's season-ending ban, combining with Ilias to send Taane Milne over for one try.
Campbell Graham also bagged a double in a game where Souths couldn't move above or below third spot.
About the only sour note for the Rabbitohs was a sternum injury to fringe forward Jed Cartwright, who was hurt trying to tackle Blake Lawrie late in the game.
The Dragons' last game of the year meanwhile summed up their horror spiral since Paul Vaughan's infamous and illegal barbecue.
Josh McGuire was put on report for two high tackles, including one in the second-half on a falling Peter Mamouzelos that saw him sin-binned.
Tariq Sims was finished the night being sent to a plastic surgeon after suffering a deep cut to his lip following a head clash with Jacob Host.
Sloan provided some late spark, as he chased down a Norman kick for the Saints' first try and went 30 metres for their next after nice play from Tom Amone and Jack de Belin.
But the fullback's potential for 2022 won't make up for the Dragons' wasted 2021, after the party at Vaughan's preceded eight straight losses and a fall from seventh to 12th on the ladder.
