The Dragons suffered a defeat against the Panthers, ending the match 28-6 during the Magic Round in Brisbane on Sunday evening.
This week was dedicated to Dragons captain Damien Cook, who was set to celebrate his 250th NRL game.
A product of Helensburgh Tigers, Cook returned home to the Dragons in 2025, having first debuted for the club in Round 6 of 2013.
Despite losing a controversial try just before half-time, Dean Young's team fought hard and narrowed the gap to twelve points in the final quarter.
Cook excelled with 69 running metres and a match-high 60 tackles, while young forwards Toby Couchman and Dylan Egan also put in strong performances.
However, the team ultimately fell short during their comeback attempt, with video officials disallowing a crucial try scored by Cook for a disputed infraction.
The second half began with the Panthers scoring first, as Isaiah Papali'i crossed over following a Casey McLean break to extend their lead.
Moses Suli exited the game due to back spasms, leading to Hayden Buchanan stepping in to face his former Under-19 Origin teammate, McLean.