Sharks condemn Manly to third-straight NRL loss

Cronulla have held off a late comeback from Manly, climbing into the NRL's top four with a 20-14 win.

Shorn of confidence and fluidity for much of the opening hour, Anthony Seibold's Sea Eagles took the game down to the wire with late tries to Reuben Garrick and Lachlan Croker.

But Cronulla held firm, condemning Manly to a third-straight defeat ahead of an unenviable trip to Canberra.

A victory in front of 10,358 fans at Brookvale Oval would have been tough for the Sharks to swallow given how comprehensively they had dealt with Manly's threats.

Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes performed a fine job of marshalling Manly's Tom Trbojevic, whose form has been constantly scrutinised this season.

Trbojevic warmed up to the task on Sunday but still looked short of his best.

NSW State of Origin coach Brad Fittler has backed Trbojevic's form but the superstar fullback is leaving it late to guarantee his selection as a must-pick when the teams for game one are announced next week.

Hynes, by contrast, is making his case for selection all the more irresistible by the week.

He continually kicked Cronulla into good field position in a running battle with Manly and Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans. 

Cronulla played like a team with a point to prove following their shellacking at the hands of the Dolphins at Magic Round. 

Five minutes in and they had Manly behind their posts, after Hynes sent a rampaging Royce Hunt over the top of Haumole Olakau'atu.

Hynes converted Hunt's try, added a penalty, then had a helping hand as Sione Katoa went over in the corner to register his sixth try of the season.

Manly, who had lost prop Josh Aloiai to a shoulder dislocation, added a penalty on the stroke of halftime through Garrick.

The reduction in margin ensured Manly had an avenue back into the game but Cronulla were keen to take that away from them. 

Sharks backrower Briton Nikora burst down the right touchline and found a supporting Jesse Ramien on his inside. 

The game looked as good as over but led by Cherry-Evans and workmanlike prop Taniela Paseka, the Sea Eagles had a slither of hope. 

Garrick touched down in the 63rd minute with hooker Lachlan Croker soon following him over to set up a grandstand finish.

Cherry-Evans kicked a Hail Mary up-and-under as the hooter sounded, but Sharks No. 1 Will Kennedy was able to cling onto the ball and a Cronulla victory.