9:26pm: Full-time: Souths regain the Charity Shield in front of 19,630 fans with a 28-10 win. The Dragons did well to get within six points of the Rabbitohs with two quick tries in the second half but Souths finished with a bang to run out deserved winners. Thanks for joining me tonight. For a full wrap-up of the game log on to smh.com.au or pick up a copy of The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday.
9:23pm: 79 min: Goodwin adds the extras. Souths 28-10.
9:23pm: 77 min: Souths secure the victory after another newcomer, Mitchell Buckett, swoops on a loose Dragons pass and scores. Souths 26-10.
9:20pm: 75 min: With Reynolds on the bench, Goodwin converts. Souths 22-10.
9:19pm: 74 min: Souths back in control after a try to 18-year-old centre Dylan Walker, who looks a great prospect. Souths 20-10.
9:16pm: Inside the final 10 minutes now, still anyone's game. Referee calls the Dragons "St George". How long have they been St George Illawarra now?
9:10pm: 66 min: Blow for the Dragons as Cameron King is taken from the field in a medicab after suffering a head knock while trying to dive over from dummy half. Rotten luck for a young player who has had a fair share of injuries.
9:03pm: Souths' inability to play well for 80 minutes cost them at times last season. Will it cost them again tonight?
9:01pm: 61 min: Soward fails to turn four into six.
9:00pm: 59 min: The Dragons are suddenly right back in this after some clever dummy half play from Mitch Rein puts Trent Merrin over. Souths 16-10.
8:57pm: 57 min: Jamie Soward's conversion from out wide cuts the Bunnies' lead to 16-6.
8:56pm: 56 min: Dragons are finally on the board through a try to centre Daniel Vidot following a bust by Morris. Souths 16-4.
8:53pm: 55 min: The Rabbitohs pepper the Dragons' line but this time their defence holds firm under enormous pressure.
8:48pm: Meanwhile, word has just come through that Canberra young gun Josh Papalii has signed a three-year deal with Parramatta, beginning in 2014. Canberra supporters will be gutted.
8:43pm: 45 min: Goodwin continues to impress for his new club, going very close to scoring another try. He's a good pick-up for the Bunnies.
8:37pm: 41 min: Second half gets under way. Come on Dragons, make a game of it at least!
8:23pm: Half-time: Souths 16-0. The Rabbitohs truly look a class above above the Dragons tonight, converting 55 per cent of possession into scoring three tries to zip. My beloved Roosters will have to be right on their game to beat the Bunnies in round one, Sonny Bill or no Sonny Bill.
8:20pm: 39 min: Reynolds adds the extras. Souths 16-0.
8:19pm: 37 min: The Bunnies' blitz continues. Beautiful interchange of passing sends Nathan Peats over for Souths' third try. Souths 14-0.
8:16pm: 35 min: Rabbitohs almost go further ahead, but Inglis loses the ball over the line courtesy of a stray Nightingale boot. Penalty to the Rabbitohs. Inglis looks set for another super season.
8:08pm: 30 min: Three handling mistakes in the past two minutes - yep, this is a trial all right.
8:03pm: 23 min: Rabbitohs out to a 10-0 lead ; Beau Champion scores his first try back in the red and green jumper following a Greg Inglis kick that was brilliantly tapped back by Andrew Everingham.
7:59pm: 21 min: Morris loses the ball in a tackle about 30m out. Rabbitohs back on the attack.
7:57pm: 19 min: Lack of penetration in attack plagued the Dragons last season and so far tonight they've failed to ask too many questions of the Souths' defence.
7:49pm: 11 min: Adam Reynolds converts from the sideline. Souths 6-0.
7:48pm: 10 min: Souths draw first blood with former Bulldog Bryson Goodwin crossing in the left corner after a sweeping back line movement. Souths 4-0.
7:44pm: 6 min: Desperate Dragons defence holds up left centre Dylan Farrell over the line.
7:41pm: 5 min: Whatever Brett Morris can do ... Jason Nightingale, back in his favoured wing position,defuses a John Sutton bomb on the other side of the field.
7:39pm: 2 min: Terrific catch of a bomb under pressure from Dragons winger Brett Morris. Dragons fans love it.
7:35pm: Players are on the field. Stand by for kick-off. Bryson Goodwin kicks off for the Rabbitohs.
7:06pm: Welcome to smh.com.au's live coverage of the Charity Shield tonight, and my first NRL blog in six months! Too long between drinks. I might be as rusty as the players themselves but I'll do my best!
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