Cronulla will travel to Melbourne next week full of confidence after a dominant 40-20 victory over Manly on Sunday afternoon.
The Sharks stunned the capacity crowd at 4 Pines Park running in seven tries to four to deny the Sea Eagles a home final next weekend.
Instead, Manly will now play Canterbury at Accor Stadium and they will have to regroup quickly if they are to replicate last week's 34-22 victory over the Bulldogs.
Sunday was Cronulla's best performance in weeks and their first over a current top-eight team since Round 11. It was the perfect tune up to next week's clash with the Storm, a team they defeated without Nicho Hynes or Braydon Trindall in Round 10.
Briton Nikora 1st Try
The halfback was much improved in his second game back from a broken leg and looks set to hit top gear throughout the finals.
Back rowers Briton Nikora and Teig Wilton were outstanding on Sunday, the pair running for a combined 297 metres, four line breaks and Nikora crossing for a double.
Briton Nikora 2nd Try
The Sharks defence was outstanding, the side missing just 17 tackles, with Manly missing 43 throughout the game.
Cronulla's win was tempered slightly by a knee injury to Tom Hazelton and an ankle injury to Jesse Ramien, with both players leaving the match in the second half.
Sione Katoa Try
The Sharks entered half time with a 16-8 lead, courtesy of tries to Sione Katoa, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Jack Williams, having weathered an early Manly storm to take the upper hand in the final 20 minutes of the first half.
Katoa opened the scoring, before the Sea Eagles struck back with tries to Tommy Talau and Clayton Faulalo to claim an 8-4 lead.
Clayton Faulalo Try
From there, however, the Sharks flexed their muscle and the injection of Tom Hazleton and Williams helped swing the game in their favour.
Desperate goal-line defence kept the hosts in the game, but the weight of pressure eventually proved too great and Hazelton and Williams combined to extend Cronulla's lead three minutes before half-time.
Manly had a handful of chances to hit back after the break, however it was the visitors who were the first to strike when Mulitalo finished off a long-range effort to make it 22-8.
Another break put the Sharks back on the attack moments later and they capitalised when Dan Atkinson grounded a grubber inches before the dead-ball line 14 seconds after he entered the field.
Daniel Atkinson Try
Haumole Olakau'atu provided the Sea Eagles with a glimmer of hope with a 57th minute tackle, however Cronulla quickly regained the ascendancy and ran in two more tries before Tolu Koula claimed a late four-pointer for Manly.
Match: Sea Eagles v Sharks
Round 27 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
7th Position
away Team
Sharks
4th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Match Snapshot
- Cronulla's Teig Wilton was put on report for a hip-drop tackle in the opening 10 minutes of the match. Teammate Jesse Ramien was also put on report for a high tackle in the second half.
- Manly's Tommy Talau has now scored eight tries in 10 games at 4 Pines Park.
- Cronulla hooker Blayke Brailey played his 100th consecutive game on Sunday afternoon.
- Ronaldo Mulitalo drew level with Steve Rogers on the Sharks all-time try scorers list with his 81st and 82nd tries on Sunday. He now sits equal-third behind Andrew Ettingshausen and David Peachey.
- The defeat was just the second Manly has suffered at 4 Pines Park this season.
- Cronulla have now won their last three games at the venue.
- The Sea Eagles have won only two from six without Tom Trbojevic this year. They hope to have him back on deck in next week's elimination final.
Play of the Game
Jack Williams Try
What They Said
Sharks: Round 27
Sea Eagles: Round 27