St George Illawarra coach Steve Price hailed Josh Dugan's superstar qualities as the former Canberra fullback enjoyed an impressive return to the NRL in the Dragons' 32-12 win over Parramatta on Saturday night.

Dugan was superb in his first game in two months after being sacked by Canberra in March for repeated discipline breaches.

The former NSW custodian scored two tries and was a constant threat to the Eels defence with ball in hand in running for a game-high 202m before 17,458 fans in Wollongong.

"He is a winner and he expects perfection at all times. For his debut in the 'red v' it was a great performance," Price said of Dugan.

"He fitted in really well during the week and I spoke to a few of the guys after the game and he was really steering them around and telling them where he wanted them to be and that is what you want from a class player.

"It was a great performance but there is a still a long way to go to get where he wants to be and where we want to be but it is a step in the right direction.

"It was great to score 32 points, we haven't scored 32 points in a while.

"I was pleased because that was our best attacking display of the year, especially in the first forty minutes."

Dugan admitted to nerves before his Dragons debut.

"That is a big weight off my shoulder," he said.

"I was a bit nervous before the game but once I got my hands on the ball I was back in the groove."

Dugan scored both second half tries for the home side in the 46th and 74th minutes after latching onto crossfield kicks from Jamie Soward and Nathan Fien as the Dragons recorded their fourth win of the year after three successive losses.

The Dragons blew the Eels away in the first half to record a 20-0 lead at the break.

Trent Merrin opened the scoring in just the second minute on the back of an early penalty and St George Illawarra led 6-0 before Parramatta had touched the ball.

Ben Creah scored the Dragons' second try after 10 minutes after Dugan had sliced through the Eels defence line and burst 40m upfield before being upended by his opposite, Eels captain Jarryd Hayne.

Daniel Vidot then crossed after a lovely long ball from Soward after Parramatta's left-hand defence was exposed for the third time in the 26th minute.

With their forwards dominating up front the Dragons were taking full advantage and Vidot crossed for a double when he beat some feeble Parramatta defence in the left corner to touch down four minutes from the break.

Parramatta managed two second half tries to back-rower Peni Terepo but by then the damage had already been done.

"The first 25-30 minutes were very frustrating and that was where the game was won," Eels coach Ricky Stuart said.

"St George played very well. They controlled the ball very well. (But) we didn't lose through lack of effort."