Tries to Maika Sivo and Dylan Brown in the first half enabled the Eels to take a 10-0 lead into the break, but the second period proved far more difficult for the visitors to put the Dragons away.
St George Illawarra lost winger Zac Lomax in the pre-game warm-up to a hamstring concern with Mikaele Ravalawa coming into the side in No.21 jersey as a replacement.
Ravalawa helped get the Dragons on the board in the 47th minute to narrow the visitors' lead after a Corey Norman cross-field kick fell back to James Graham, who helped send the Fijian flyer over in the corner.
