The Dragons held out the Eels 34-20 at Members Equity Stadium in Perth on Sunday, with youngsters Trent Merrin, Jake Marketo, Kyle Stanley and Beau Henry impressing acting head coach Steve Price in the 37 degree heat.

Nightingale looked good in defence and attack and seems certain to hammer-down a wing spot now that Wendell Sailor has retired.

The Dragons had a 4-0 lead at quarter time after Nightingale sent Nick Emmett over the corner. A new-look squad took the field for the second quarter, with Beau Henry and Jake Marketo making their NRL debuts, and Michael Greenfield, Bronx Goodwin and Junior Paulo turning for the first time for the club.

Tries to Ricky Thorby and Nightingale and to Eels half Jeff Robson had the Dragons leading 16-4 at half-time. Both sides swapped tryscoring efforts and the Eels fought back to be down by just two, 22-20, late in the game.

But tries to Nathan Fien and Michael Lett, again converted by Bronx Goodwin, gave the Dragons their final 14-point margin in front of 9450 people.