Despite having a player sent off in the 14th minute the Roosters have come from behind to beat the Sharks 20-18 in their round 20 Jersey Flegg match at Sharks Stadium.
The Sharks had both a handy lead after two early tries and a man advantage for all but 14 minutes of the match, but they were unable to hold off a determined Roosters outfit in what was a disappointing loss for the young Cronulla outfit.
The Sharks began strongly, following a Roosters error in the early exchanges it was centre Prestyn Laine-Sietu to post first points, the powerful Sharks centre crashing over out wide.
Riley Pollard converted and four minutes into the contest the Sharks led 6-0.
Not long after the match would take a turn when Roosters five-eighth Lachlan Dooner was sent from the field for an ugly-looking lifting tackle on Sharks lock Sam McCulloch, reducing his team to 12 men for the rest of the match.
Pollard kicked a penalty goal following the send off to put the Sharks up by eight, with the home team then extending their advantage when winger John-Paul Donevski crossed in the north-eastern corner of Sharks Stadium.
Despite being down a man the Roosters managed to get themselves on the scoreboard through half back Josh Durkin, the margin narrowed to six following the conversion, however the Sharks would push their lead back out to 12 when Nikora Williams scored, the try converted by Pollard, with the Cronulla side up by 18-6 at the break.
With the southerly wind at their back it was the Roosters to dominate the opening 15 minutes of the second half and after a period of sustained possession would eat into the Sharks lead.
A try to Jackson Stewart adjacent to the posts off a clever Durkin offload made it 18-12, then at the 60-minute mark they would level up the scores with hooker Jaxson Allen finishing off a long-range movement.
The visitors went two in front, courtesy of a penalty goal for a play the ball indiscretion, and the Sharks were unable to bridge the gap in the final 20 minutes, errors and ill-discipline hampering their chances in going down 20-18 to the undermanned Roosters.
The under-21 Sharks have the bye next weekend before facing the Bulldogs at Belmore Sports Ground in a Round 22 clash.
