St George Illawarra finally gave their long-suffering fans and coach Nathan Brown something to smile about as they produced their best display of the season to beat the Sydney Roosters 26-6 in the Anzac Day NRL clash.

Few would have given the Dragons any chance but they rolled up their sleeves and took it to their more fancied opponents in scoring four tries to one.

For the Roosters, back to back losses have taken the edge off what had been a promising start to the year.

Fans were left wondering who it was wearing the red and white jumpers early as the Dragons put weeks of poor form aside to open like a premiership powerhouse.

A Jamie Soward bomb after just three minutes was spectacularly reeled in by Ben Hornby for the game's first points before a Hornby crossfield kick found Josh Morris who sent winger Jason Nightingale away for a shock 12-0 lead.

The Roosters were rattled and it was hardly surprising to see Braith Anasta's restart sail over the dead ball line but the Dragons eventually undid their perfect start via a Dean Young penalty.

Showing the crispness of their early season play, the Roosters got on the board when Anthony Tupou ran a great line off a Braith Anasta pass. Tupou's footwork and pace is sure to have left coach Brad Fittler with mixed feelings following the former Test backrower's decision to sign with Cronulla earlier this week.

A Riley Brown high tackle saw the Dragons extend the lead out to eight points courtesy of a Soward penalty goal and the enthusiasm of their display was highlighted when Sam Perrett was pushed back into his in-goal on a kick return.

Their perseverance was rewarded just before the break when Josh Morris shrugged off a pair of defenders for an 18-6 lead.

Looking for their first win since round two, the Dragons showed a few nerves after the interval, with Soward and the Morris twins all committing unforced errors to give the Roosters hope.

Anasta and halves partner Mitchell Pearce bombarded the Dragons back three with a bevy of high balls, kicks looking like their only avenue of points against a determined red and white wall.

The Dragons then put the game away with Brett Morris the first to a Simon Woolford grubber close to the Roosters line before another Soward penalty goal extended the lead to beyond three converted tries.

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