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South Sydney Rabbitohs survived a late onslaught to avoid a fourth straight NRL defeat as they beat in-form St George-Illawarra Dragons 16-10.
The defending champions had slipped to seventh in the table on the back of three consecutive losses, but produced a more performance to take the points at ANZ Stadium.
Stand-off Adam Reynolds, making his return from a knee injury, put the Rabbitohs ahead with a fifth-minute penalty that was quickly answered with a two-pointer from opposite number Gareth Widdop.
Widdop then put the Dragons, who had previously won six on the bounce, ahead as he crossed for the game's first try after being fed by Peter Mata'utia following a terrific line break from the full-back.
The hosts answered as winger Aaron Gray crossed for his first try for the club at the end of a well-worked backline move.
Jason Nightingale went over in the corner a minute before half-time to give the Dragons a slender 10-6 lead, only for Gray to restore the Rabbitohs' advantage six minutes after the restart.
Alex Johnston then scored the home side's third try of the contest, but Reynolds' attempted conversion bounced off the left upright - giving the Dragons the chance to at least force the match to golden-point extra-time.
The Rabbitohs spent the last 10 minutes almost exclusively on the back foot as the visitors applied the pressure, but to no avail.