Josh Dugan celebrates the Dragons win with Benji Marshall. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited
BENJI Marshall landed his first NRL win in 10 months and Josh Dugan quite possibly grabbed a sky blue jersey.
The high-profile St George Illawarra duo were instrumental in the Dragons' crushing local derby victory over an injury-ravaged Cronulla.
Marshall, who sealed his first NRL win since August, had a hand in five of the Dragons' six tries.
Benji Marshall finds space with Josh Dugan in support. Source: News Limited
Dugan bagged a hat-trick of four-pointers that suggested he is the man to solve NSW coach Laurie Daley's right centre vacancy.
Enjoying a glut of possession against a Sharks side missing 13 regular first-graders, Marshall reached into his old bag of tricks to pull out the gold he had been searching for over the past month.
josh Dugan celebrates try number three. Source: News Limited
While the Sharks resembled nothing more than shadows at times, Marshall's kicking game, no-look passes and confidence in directing the Dragons around the paddock was the performance that warranted his $1.1 million price tag.
The key for the Kiwi international is to back it up against better opposition than he came up against last night.
The Dragons' victory, coming after four straight losses, also marked Paul McGregor's first success as head coach of the club.
Josh Dugan celebrates scoring one of his three tries for the Dragons. Source: News Limited
Dugan, playing in the unfamiliar role of right centre, could do nothing more to impress Daley.
His first two tries were all strength and power, muscling his frame past defenders. His third came when he climbed high above his rivals to pull down a pinpoint Marshall kick.
The Sharks were valiant in defeat, their debutants Fa'amanu Brown and Jacob Gagan offered promise, but in reality this was a match that they were never going to win.
They couldn't have got off to a worse start when veteran half-back Daniel Holdsworth knocked on from the kick-off. From that point, they were on the back foot for the opening 25 minutes.
Adam Quinlan is tackled by Blake Ayshford. Source: Getty Images
The Dragons dominated territory and possession before winger Peter Mata'utia went charging over in the eastern corner to open the scoring.
The Sharks continued to make errors and Saints capitalised. Dugan charged on to a Marshall pass for his first.
Marshall looked far more enthusiastic and effective. He ran the ball hard and straight and gave his outside men plenty of options.
Nathan Stapleton is tackled by the Dragons defence. Source: News Limited
In the opening 30 minutes, the Sharks had only two play-the-balls inside St George Illawarra's 20m zone.
And when they got there they lost the football.
Marshall's kicking game was also a huge improvement on his first two outings. Three times in the first half the Sharks were forced to take line-dropouts.
Nathan Gardner added some energy from fullback, but, because of his size, lacked penetration.
Josh Dugan makes a break. Source: Getty Images
Dugan grabbed his second try in the 32nd minute, again off Marshall. It was the sort of combination the Dragons have been desperate to find.
Fulltime ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 30 (J Dugan 3 G Beale 2 P Mata'utia tries G Widdop 3 goals) bt CRONULLA 0 at WIN Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Chris James. Crowd: 12,079
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