The Sharks raced in seven tries to three with Valentine Holmes scoring a double in front of 15,738 people at Remondis Stadium.

Holmes again showed his attacking class while Michael Ennis and Michael Gordon were among Cronulla's best. Three tries in the final 15 minutes flattered a Cronulla side, with the victory all but securing them a top eight spot and keeping their top four hopes alive, moving them to fifth on the ladder.

It was the first time since round 22, 2012 which the Sharks scored more than 40 points in a game. While the Tigers were their own worst enemy at times, poor completion and discipline eventually took its toll, as they finished the match completing just 56 per cent of their possessions.

The Sharks started the game in blistering fashion. As much as they were strangled out of the contest by the Storm last week, they marched up the field with ease against the Tigers.

It took six minutes before the Tigers touched the ball. By that stage they trailed 6-0, when a Jack Bird pass found an angled run by Luke Lewis to charge in between Luke Brooks and Tim Simona to score after four minutes.

A Gordon penalty goal extended Cronulla's lead by two before the Tigers only try came off the back of a Sharks error. Bird fumbled the ball near the Tigers try line, with Brooks scooping it up before racing 90 metres only to be run down by Holmes.

A shift to the opposite end caught the scrambling Sharks short, with Simona scoring.

The Tigers were their own worst enemy in the opening half, completing eight from 15 sets and a slick Cronulla side – led by Michael Ennis made them pay. An error from the set following the try instantly put the Sharks on the attack.

A short side raid by Ennis found Ricky Leutele who attracted winger David Nofoaluma before a late off-load gave Sosaia Feki an easy passage to the try line. Ennis would have a try of his own, with a simple dummy opening up a 20-6 half-time lead for the home side.

The Tigers could have added more points just before half-time when a Mitchell Moses cut-out pass was fumbled by Nofoaluma who looked destined to score.

The Tigers did not improve their discipline to start the second half. A last tackle error by Moses followed by a Keith Galloway penalty instantly put the Sharks on the attack.

A nice worked set move where Jeff Robson switched play from the open to the blindside created numbers with Holmes able to race away two minutes into the second half.

The Tigers dominated the next string of possession and territory and eventually they broke through. A simple charge by Martin Taupau beat a handful of tired Sharks defenders including Lewis and Matt Prior to have his side within two converted tries.

A last tackle grubber and regather try by Curtis Sironen had the Tigers trailing 24-18 with 22 minutes remaining. A runaway try from Holmes saved the Sharks of a possible shock defeat when he scooped up a fumbled ball by Brooks to race 60 metres.

Tries to Gordon and Graham completed the Sharks late spree.