Young Sharks get taught a lesson

It was a loss which now makes the Sharks next game against the Cowboys on Saturday night a crucial one should they hope to remain in the finals race.

They were without Shaun Johnson whose wife Kayla gave birth to their first child Millah on Thursday,and Chad Townsend the absence of Cronulla's key playmaker's too difficult to overcome with a young team.

It was a defeat which makes the Sharks next game against the Cowboys a crucial one should they hope to remain in the finals race.

Coach John Morris labelled the Panthers as the team to beat in this year's Telstra Premiership after his side were beaten again in another lopsided result.

"We came here with a plan to start well because Penrith start fast, they like to blow you off the park early and that was a focus all week."

But once again the Panthers scored first after just five minutes leaving it 6-0,the Sharks turned over the ball and it was 10-0 just 14 minutes into the match.

Cronulla's year has been under duress with Bronson Xerri's ASADA suspension costing the Sharks their most dynamic back, and the club continues to carry his salary.

The cap is also under a second year of a $350,000 punishment when Shane Flanagan was banned for breaching the terms of his NRL suspension.

Johnson and prop Andrew Fifita should return for next week's clash which they must win against the Cowboys at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday night.