SO this is how you win games without Jamie Soward, ey?

MATCH CENTRE: RABBITOHS v DRAGONS

With their maligned player, and field goal specialist, having been let walk only weeks ago, St George Illawarra on Monday night earned a golden point upset over South Sydney the hard way.

After failing with three field goal shots - via Josh Dugan, Nathan Fien and Chase Stanley - the Dragons eventually sealed the gritty win three minutes into extra time, when halfback Nathan Fien sent a beautiful pass to NSW Origin winger Brett Morris.

The victory celebrations were soured, however, following news Dragons favourite Matt Cooper, unsigned beyond this year, has likely played his last game of league after suffering a suspected torn pectoral early in the second half.

Still, on a night when the Dragons scored two converted tries in the final 10 minutes to draw level - and fullback Dugan was outstanding - the Glory, Glory juggernaut was finally brought to a halt.

Afterwards, coach Steve Price praised the tenacity of his side saying: "We really showed some grit out there tonight ... we fought like dogs.''

media_camera The Dragons' Nathan Fien celebrates the match-winning try by Brett Morris as Daniel Vidot joins in, in the background. Picture: Philip Hillyard

Playing without star fullback Greg Inglis, who is set to miss anywhere from a fortnight to eight weeks with a bung knee, Souths led 18-6 with 16 minutes to go but were caught within seven minutes of fulltime.

From there, halfback Adam Reynolds missed three field goal shots before fulltime while, for the Dragons, Dugan, Fien and Stanley all sprayed attempts to seal the win with a point.

"We've been under a bit of pressure lately,'' Price said.

"And I'm just really proud of the players to hang tough the way they did.

"We've got a footy club who believed in themselves against a very formidable football team and competition leaders. I was really pleased with the guts we showed, not giving in.

"For Fiensy to come up with the play of the game, I'm just really pleased with him. He has been copping a bit of flak. It was a great play.''

For the Rabbitohs, prop Roy Asotasi was placed on report for an alleged "cannonball'' tackle against rival prop Jack De Belin in the second half.

The other big talking point on a night the Bunnies' winning streak was brought crashing down was the continued rise and rise of NSW Origin fullback Dugan after that infamous night on the, er, tiles.

Looking more dangerous than a bearded tennis dad, Dugan ran for well over 150m, threatened with every touch and generally set the scene for an enthralling clash with the club he walked out on, Canberra, just four days from now.

It was also his pass, while being dumped on to his back midway through the second half, that ensured one of the gutsiest fightbacks of the season.

Dugan's efforts meant that while the Dragons made a series of crucial clangers in attack they levelled the scores with under six minutes to play.

"Our defence was poor,'' Souths coach Michael Maguire said.

media_camera Josh Dugan played a starring role in the Saints' win.

"It's one of those games we need to have a look at and realise every game in this competition is a tough one. And if you're off you'll get bitten like we did tonight.''

For the first 40 minutes, however, this was a contest in which it seemed the only thing missing was that soundtrack from The Benny Hill Show.

For the Dragons, Fien failed to find touch from a penalty, Ben Creagh knocked on near the stripe and centre Stanley, attempting to take a 50m drop-out, somehow fumbled the ball over the right sideline.

All up the Red V made eight errors in the first half, and yet by the break they still trailed by only six points.

Much of that, of course, had to do with the fact Souths also made eight blues. The rest you could put down to Dugan.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 22 (B Morris 2 T Merrin A Quinlan tries C Stanley 3 goals) bt SOUTH SYDNEY 18 (S Burgess A Reynolds D Walker tries A Reynolds 3 goals) in golden-point extra time at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton, David Munro. Crowd: 14,571.