St George Illawarra fans got what they were hoping for as Trent Barrett made a classy return from injury in the Dragons' Charity Shield victory over South Sydney at Aussie Stadium.

Barrett - playing his first match since suffering an ankle injury in May last year - scored an opportunistic solo try in the 25th minute and had a hand in two others in the first half as St George Illawarra punished the Rabbitohs for an inept first half performance, winning 34-8.

Coach Nathan Brown rested his playmaker in the second stanza - but the damage had been done.

"I was just glad to get through the first half," Barrett said.

"I probably could have kept playing but I didn't see the point in trying to push it too much. I haven't played for nine months."

With Barrett watching from the stands, the Dragons added another three tries after the break.

The first came in the 50th minute through try-hungry winger Nathan Blacklock, the second five minutes later when the impressive Shaun Timmins scored under the posts and the third with two minutes remaining through youngster Ben Creagh.

But the most encouraging sight for Dragons supporters was the return of Barrett.

After Matt Cooper scored the game's opening try in the ninth minute thanks to some smart work from Barrett and Timmins, the Dragons No.6 did it all himself 21 minutes later.

The 26-year-old cleaned up his own stab kick after it rebounded off the post, celebrating with a short burst of applause directed at the Dragons fans behind the posts.

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