Cronulla's march up the NRL ladder has continued at the expense of a depleted North Queensland outfit in a 26-12 win in Townsville.
In a top-four showdown, it was the Sharks who made all the running against a Cowboys team missing six of their regular starting side.
The Cowboys were without Tom Dearden, Valentine Holmes, Jeremiah Nanai when they were rested after State of Origin while Murray Taulagi wasn't named because of COVID-19 protocols.
Reuben Cotter and Jordan McLean are still sidelined with hamstring injuries, gifting the Sharks a golden opportunity to shore up a place inside the top four.
And the visitors accepted their chances with open arms to now sit third on the premiership table after powering to their fifth consecutive win.
They are equal on 26 points with the second-placed Cowboys and will continue their chase for a top-two berth in a tantalising clash with ladder leaders Penrith next week.
Cronulla winger Sione Katoa the iced the game in the 69th minute when he blitzed through a hole from a 30-metre scrum inside the Sharks' half to put the result beyond doubt.
His try backed up Teig Wilton's four-pointer 10 minutes earlier which swung the contest back towards the Sharks after Jason Taumalolo was denied on the previous set of six tackles.
The Cowboys co-skipper ran straight at the line then stepped off his right foot to dive in under the posts but the try was disallowed by the bunker who deemed supporting player Reece Robson impeded the Sharks defence.
That 12-point turnaround was the dagger in a gassed Cowboys side whose streak at home ends at five consecutive wins.
After the opening half, the Sharks enjoyed a two-point buffer at the break in a blistering defence-orientated opening 40 minutes.
They cracked the Cowboys in the third and 20th minutes with Jessie Ramien crossing for a double, claiming his fifth try in two games.
Their tries came on the back off relieving penalties given up by the Cowboys as Cronulla enjoyed the lion's share of possession through the opening quarter.
But following Ramien's second, North Queensland got on the board through Kyle Feldt after a slick play through the hands to their right edge.
The pendulum swung again with the Sharks on the offensive and Coen Hess was pinged for tackling without the ball.
Nicho Hynes kicked the penalty goal from in front of the uprights to extend the lead to 14-6.
But the Cowboys weren't done after William Kennedy made a meal of a grubberkick in the in-goal area.
Repeated six again infringements gave referee Adam Gee no option but to sin bin Blayke Brailey with Chad Townsend putting Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow through a gaping hole two minutes before halftime to have the Cowboys trail 14-12.
