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The Sharks have overcome an uninspiring first half effort to down the Tigers 24-16 in front of over 13,00 fans at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers surged to a 10-2 lead at the break, with the wet weather troubling the home side who looked rudderless in attack.
However, a Paul Gallen-inspired Cronulla side responded to score 22 points in the second half as they affirmed their position in the Top Eight.
Both sides opened the scoring in conservative fashion, with the first six points of the game coming through penalty goals.
The Sharks looked to have scored an early try in the fifth minute after back-rower Luke Lewis pounced on a Chad Townsend grubber. However, the veteran to fumbled the ball in the attempt to ground it and the try was disallowed.
The afternoon did not get much better for Lewis with the experienced campaigner later ruled out for the rest of the contest through concussion.
The Tigers finally opened the try-scoring in the 20th minute when Elijah Taylor dummied and crashed over, embarrassing the Cronulla defence.
A 32nd minute sin-binning of Tigers edge forward Michael Chee-Kam threatened to derail what was an otherwise strong showing from the away team in the opening forty minutes.
However, Ivan Cleary’s men showed great determination to hold on to an eight-point lead at halftime.
The second half saw a rejuvenated Sharks outfit pile on the points. Cronulla’s big men had been dominated in the opening forty minutes so it was only fitting that inspirational skipper Paul Gallen was the one to spark the home side’s comeback.
Only expected to provide a customary hit-up, the former Australian representative went one further and took four defenders with him on the way to the try line. Not long after the Sharks had their second, with Gallen again involved.
This time the lock was the creator, passing inside to Valentine Holmes who raced 80 metres to score under the posts after evading several Tigers defenders along the way.
A beautiful long ball from five-eighth Matt Moylan saw Edrick Lee fly over in the 58th minute and suddenly it was a comprehensive 18-10 lead for the Sharks.
However, the Tigers soon hit back when a short ball from Luke Brooks saw Chris Lawrence step back infield and burst through the line before linking with Tui Lolohea who crossed over.
Desperate for victory, Cleary’s men continued to pepper the Cronulla line yet failed to convert their field position into points.
Soon-to-be Newcastle recruit Jesse Ramien then sealed the victory when he showed great power and strength to stream through the Tigers defence in the 76th minute.
As a result the Sharks kept their top four hopes alive while the Tigers still remain two points adrift of a spot in the top eight.
Final score
Cronulla Sharks 24
Wests Tigers 16
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