Cronulla finally showed they should be in the top eight with a comfortable 28-12 victory against an overpowered North Queensland on Saturday at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
After last week's loss where the Sharks gave up seven tries in a 38-12 loss to the Panthers, Matt Moylan lost his spot to youngster Connor Tracey and Captain Wade Graham said the entire team was on notice.
The young halves Tracey and Brayden Trindall controlled the game for the Sharks in Shaun Johnson's absence, Tracey scoring a try, with fullback Will Kennedy taking on the line and offloading two try assists.
Cronulla went into half time leading 16-6 after putting on all the pressure going forward and turning possession into try's to Briton Nikora, Sione Katoa and Braden Hamlin-Uele and always looked in control and could have scored four more.
The scoreline did not reflect the domination of the home side with centre Josh Dugan forced him from the field with a leg injury and Jesse Ramien also finished the match on the sideline after being accidentally poked in the eye.
Big front rower Andrew Fifita returned on the bench after missing six weeks with hamstring and finger issues coming into the 17 at the expense of Jack Williams and the Sharks forwards never gave the Cowboys a break.
The Cowboys havn't won at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium since 2003 and their woes deepened when captain Michael Morgan, in his third game back from injury, did his calf and was left the field after just 15 minutes.
The Sharks had everything to play for with four more games until finals and In this his 203rd game Wade Graham went past club legend Steve Rogers record and into eighth place for most matches played for the Cronulla club.
The Sharks next face the Knights then the Warriors, Roosters and Raiders in a tough run home but with a good for-and-against they should secure a finals berth with one more win. ,