In front of a parochial home crowd of just over 16,000, the South Sydney Rabbitohs have proved too good for the Sharks in their round 10 match at Accor Stadium.
With a territorial and possession advantage in the first half, a slick Rabbitohs performance has seen them build an 18-0 lead, before going on with the job in scoring a 36-12 victory over a disappointing Sharks side.
The loss, the Sharks fifth of the season, sees them drop out of the top eight with a crucial game next week against the Bulldogs.
Souths put first points on the board with a penalty goal in the sixth minute and with a lion's share of the ball kept the pressure on a Sharks defense which finally cracked, the Rabbitohs exploiting an overlap on their left-hand side in scoring their first try of the night through Alex Johnston.
Soon after a long-range break put Souths back on the attack and this time it was Euan Aitken diving over in the opposite corner of Accor Stadium and when both conversions were successful it was 14-0 to the home team.
A poor defensive read in the 34th minute, again on the Sharks right led to a second Johnston try, and the Souths side, who on the back of 60 per cent possession and a 7-0 penalty count would go to half time ahead by a three converted try margin.
Unfortunately for the Sharks the second half would start almost the same way the first finished, following an error coming out of their own end, again the Cronulla side was caught short down their right, and once more Johnston was left alone as he strolled over for try number three on night.
Souths debutant Latrell Siegwalt kicked his fourth goal of the night and it was 24-0 to the Rabbitohs just six minutes into the second period.
Neither team was able to trouble the scorers in the next 25 minutes of the match before a Cam Murray try from close range, the extra two points pushing the score out to 30-0, putting the result beyond doubt.
KL Iro would score a consolation try for the Cronulla team seven minutes from full time, Mawene Hiroti crossed for a second Sharks four-pointer in the closing moments, both converted by Nicho Hynes, with the Rabbits Campbell Graham in his 150th NRL game completing the scoring in the 79th minute of the match.
The Sharks now have six days before their next match, which will be the opening game of Magic Round on Friday night against the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium.
