The Sharks have fallen out of the NRL's top 4 after a 24-20 loss to Canberra at Ocean Protect Stadium.
The loss was made even worse when Sharks' try assist record holder Braydon Trindall suffered a shoulder injury, for which he'll get scans tomorrow to determine the severity.
It's Cronulla's second straight loss to an opponent outside of the top 8 and one that ends a 6-game winning streak at home.
Sharks: Round 24
The Sharks got on the board first via a penalty goal thanks to an escort by the Raiders, with Nicho Hynes nailing it from right of the posts to take a 2-0 lead.
Sharks' half Braydon Trindall grubbered for himself for the first try and Hynes kicked the goal to get Cronulla off to the perfect start at 8-0.
Or so they thought; Trindall dislocated his shoulder in the act of scoring and had to come from the field.
The Raiders' reply was quick, with Xavier Savage and then Owen Pattie crossing within minutes to go in front after 15 minutes, Canberra up 12-8.
Savage then saved a Sharks try when KL Iro tried to score in the corner, followed up by his opposite winger Jed Stuart making Cronulla pay at the other end, taking Canberra's lead out to 18-8.
The Sharks kicked into gear and got back in the game minutes later when Blayke Brailey set up Teig Wilton for his 8th four-pointer of the season to get the home side within 4 points.
Cronulla nearly levelled the score on half-time with the final play lasting 50 seconds, which included 21 passes and two kicks before the Raiders knocked it dead.
Canberra's defence wouldn't crack until a Kaeo Weekes error at the back gifted Sharks number 1 Will Kennedy a try 10 minutes into the half, and the Sharks would take the lead at 20-18 after a Hynes conversion.
It wouldn't last long, though, as Raiders captain Joseph Tapine barged over, holding off 5 Cronulla defenders to score and make it 24-20.
Ronaldo Mulitalo thought he had the Sharks' second-greatest try-scorer record, and a match-winner when he stretched out, but it was ruled he was just short of the line.
Cronulla threw everything at Canberra and had chances to score but were held out in the final 20 minutes, going down by 4 points.
They now have to pick themselves up and try to turn things around against the Titans on the Gold Coast next Saturday.
Sharks v Raiders – Round 24, 2026
