The St George Illawarra Dragons suffered a crushing 38-18 defeat to the Gold Coast Titans, securing their first wooden spoon in the NRL's history.

The loss, which came after a promising start to the season, has left the joint-venture club eight points adrift of the 16th-placed Wests Tigers with seven games remaining.

Despite coach Dean Young's efforts to build around local juniors and key recruits like Keaon Koloamatangi, the Dragons' performance highlighted glaring weaknesses.The Titans dominated both sides of the ball, with players like Phillip Sami and Jaylan de Groot wreaking havoc.Young admitted the team failed to match their recent improvements, citing poor tackling and execution.The defeat underscores the challenges facing the Dragons as they aim to rebuild, with a crucial match against the Dolphins looming.The result marks a significant moment for the club, signaling the start of a rebuilding phase in their storied history.