FRIDAY UPDATE:
Dragons forward Jake Marketo is facing a suspension after Thursday night's win over the Panthers for a dangerous throw on Penrith's Latu Lelani.
Marketo will be suspended for one match with an early guilty plea and would risk a two-match ban if he unsuccessfully challenges the charge at the judiciary.
Teammate Tyson Frizell was charged with tripping Panthers fullback Will Smith but can escape a suspension with an early guilty plea.
THURSDAY NIGHT:
St George Illawarra Dragons kept their place in the NRL top eight with a hard fought 19-12 win over Penrith on Thursday night at Wollongong.
Entering the match on 24 points, the Dragons moved to seventh temporarily before the weekend round of matches to keep their finals hopes alive. They now have 26 points.
But Dragons coach Paul McGregor will have some worrying moments with forward Jake Marketo and centre Euan Aitken on report for different incidents in the game.
The Dragons surged home in the final 15 minutes of the match in front of 9145 people at WIN Stadium, with a field goal to halfback Benji Marshall breaking a 12-12 deadlock in the 69th minute.
Marshall, back after missing last week's match against Brisbane with a torn hamstring, steadied the team in the second half with his passing and kicking game.
Widdop had another fine game landing five goals and scoring the match-sealing try regathering a kick ahead in the final minutes and converted from wideout.
When Widdop runs in attack the Dragons are a much better team and their outside backs feed off the space he creates.
NSW forward Trent Merrin played his final game at WIN Stadium, as he has signed with Penrith for the next three years.
Former Dragons five-eighth Jamie Soward, kept Penrith in the match with his smart kicking game.
Soward played with the Dragons for seven seasons between 2007-2013 and was a member of their 2010 grand final winning team under coach Wayne Bennett.
Widdop said in a Channel Nine post-game interview the team will be happy with the two points but need to improve in coming games to make the finals.
The Dragons and Panthers were locked 10-10 at halftime with both sides having opportunities to score more than one try each in the first half but they made errors at crucial times.
Leader man of the match Dragons five-eighth Gareth Widdop.
Dragons next two games against Gold Coast on Sunday, August 30' at Gold Coast, and versus Wests Tigers on Saturday, September 5 at ANZ Stadium.
St George Ilawarra Dragons 19 (Peter Mata' Utia, Gareth Widdop tries,
Gareth Widdop 5 goals, Benji Marshall one field goal) defeated Penrith 12 ( Josh Mansour, David Simmons tries, Jamie Soward 2 goals). crowd: 9145.
