St George Illawarra Dragons have slumped to a fourth defeat of the NRL season, leaving coach Paul McGregor on the employment chopping block.
The Dragons were outplayed in every facet by the previously winless Canterbury Bulldogs, falling to a 22-2 loss and cementing the club at the foot of the table.
The Dragons started with intent that had been missing in their shutout loss to NZ Warriors last weekend, taking an early lead after a Lachlan Lewis professional foul in the opening minutes.
But St George failed to capitalise on several tryscoring chances in the first quarter, handing the momentum over to the Bulldogs, who were inspired by returning former Kiwis captain Kieran Foran.
The Bulldogs led 10-2 at the break, thanks to an Adam Elliot try midway through the first spell that broke the Dragons' resistance.
Second-half tries to Nick Meaney and Reimis Smith, who could be set for several weeks on the sideline after a knee to the head of Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa, sealed the result for coach Dean Pay's side.
Fox Sports commentator Braith Anasta labelled the Dragons performance a "horror show", after their final and 19th error of the match.
Pay was delighted with his side's grit, but deflected questions over his frustrations with club management and reports that a loss would have ended his coaching stint.
"We just came in, get on with what we’re doing," he said. "The only way we can stop all that is through our performances."
McGregor is signed until the end of the 2021 season.
