A dominant first half in Sunday's 20-all trial draw against the Roosters at PointsBet Stadium showed the Sharks have the ingredients to be a force this NRLW season.
Cronulla were slick in attack, scoring three tries for a 12-0 halftime lead before resting some of their big guns including Emma Tonegato and Quincy Dodd.
The Roosters, who lost captain Corban Baxter and winger Brydie Parker to injuries, roared to life after the break as Taina Naividi bagged a quickfire double.
While the Sharks regained composure to extend their advantage to 20-12, the Tricolours ultimately tied the match with a try to Mia Wood on the last play.
Cronulla's performance against a team containing several representative stars will hold them in good stead for a Round 1 clash with the Cowboys on July 27.
As to be expected in a pre-season fixture, it was scrappy at times in the opening exchanges with the teams getting back into the rhythm of competition.
The game was played in quarters with no conversion attempts.
Cronulla began energetically, making a statement in the opening set when Dodd took off from dummy-half and gobbled up metres through the middle.
The Sharks drew first blood through Georgia Ravics, with fullback Jada Taylor and centre Annessa Biddle combining from a scrum to send the winger over.
They extended the lead when second-rower Talei Holmes proved too hard to stop at close range after charging onto a neat short ball from five-eighth Tonegato.
Brute strength from Ellie Johnston put Cronulla further ahead, the prop skittling defenders and muscling her way to the line in the 22nd minute.
International star Tonegato continued to show her class, breaking clear on the left edge to kick-start another Sharks raid. Backrower Rhiannon Byers then threatened to add a fourth try for Cronulla but was taken into touch.
Roosters forward Jasmin Strange set sail for the try-line late in the second quarter, but Sharks custodian Taylor produced a strong cover tackle to halt her momentum and winger Cassie Staples was on the spot to intercept an offload.
The Tricolours mounted a comeback in the third quarter, enjoying success on their left edge as winger Naividi touched down twice in quick succession.
Staples steadied the ship for Cronulla, scooping up a loose ball to add more points after utility playmaker Georgia Hannaway forced an error with a bomb.
Going tit for tat, the Roosters reduced the margin once more when halfback Jocelyn Kelleher danced through the defence. Cronulla quickly reclaimed the momentum, however, with Taylor setting up a try for captain Tiana Penitani.
Centre Jessica Sergis returned fire for the visitors, keeping the Roosters firmly in the contest heading into the final 10 minutes. Wood's last-gasp effort in the right corner meant the teams walked off having each scored five tries.
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