A workmanlike performance allowed Cronulla to grab consecutive wins for the first time since rounds four and five on Saturday afternoon, downing the Gold Coast 18-10 in Coffs Harbour.
They led 10-0 early and looked on course for a blowout victory but went to the sheds at 10-10 after a lift from the Titans, before pitching a second-half shut-out to claim the points.
Sharks' five-eighth Matt Moylan produced some magic to create a quick try for Blayke Brailey to reclaim the lead after halftime, while a Nicho Hynes penalty extended the margin to eight points on 58 minutes.
Cronulla controlled the majority of the clash but once again ball control proved a killer, completing at just 69 per cent and making 15 errors to allow the Titans to stay in the contest.
In his final audition before State of Origin game two, NSW aspirant Hynes had a hand in two tries, forced two goal-line dropouts with inch-perfect kicks and was a constant creative factor in the win.
Things looked brilliant early for Cronulla when a clever cut-out tap-on from Will Kennedy let Sione Katoa open the scoring in the corner, before Moylan made it two Sharks tries in four minutes with an impressive solo effort.
But while the danger signs seemed to be appearing, Titans fullback AJ Brimson created a line break for Beau Fermor, who ran more than half the field to pull the score back to 10-6.
And they were level at 10-10 through Greg Marzhew on 25 minutes, who powered to the line in the corner after crashing straight through Katoa.
Moylan thought he had found his double in the shadows of half-time, but his try was chalked off for an obstruction, while only desperate Titan goal-line defence prevented a Jesse Ramien try with the first half's penultimate play.
Cronulla found some big metre-eating performances from their backs, led by Katoa (154m), Siosifa Talakai (148m) and Jesse Ramien (136m), while captain Dale Finucane had 85m off the bench in his return from injury.
Titans captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui produced another monstrous game for his club with 187m, while Fermor was also gutsy.
Their side showed plenty more heart than they have in recent weeks but again failed to fire particularly inside opposition territory in slumping to 3-12 for the season.
Back at fullback after spending most of the season in the halves, Brimson had some nice touches, including his try-assist.
