Who needs Brett Kimmorley and Adam Dykes?

Apparently not Cronulla. Despite being without its key playmakers, and losing its most experienced players in second rower Lance Thompson and stand-in five-eighth Nigel Vagana to injury, the Sharks had no trouble disposing of Canberra 38-28 in their National Rugby League clash at Canberra Stadium.

Leading up to the match, Sharks coach Stuart Raper maintained Cronulla was a team not reliant on individuals.

His team proved him right as it piled on three unanswered tries in the opening 12 minutes and scored a total of seven tries by fulltime to stretch its winning streak to four matches.

The final scoreline was flattering to Canberra, which failed to display the intensity needed to compete against the Sharks.

What made Cronulla's victory even sweeter was the fact it was without its stars in halfback Kimmorley (ankle) and five-eighth Dykes (ankle).

Thompson was forced off the field in the sixth minute with a knee injury and Vagana missed much of the second half after suffering a scratched cornea when he copped a finger in his left eye.

That left the likes of halfback Brett Kearney, playing just his fifth first-grade game for the Sharks, and fullback David Simmons to orchestrate a win for Cronulla.

Sharks centre Phil Bailey said it was a case of the team being determined to get the job done, regardless of who was or wasn't on the field.

"Not having Noddy (Kimmorley) and Dykesy there, it's good to get the monkey off your back," he said.

"Blokes are really playing for the team instead of themselves.

"We've got a motto at the club and between the boys; Just get it done.

"It doesn't matter how we get it done, it was pretty ugly in the second half there especially for 20 minutes, but we got it done in the end."

The ugliness Bailey was referring to was the only part of the match Canberra cares to remember.

After trailing 30-6 early in the second half, Canberra scored three quick, consecutive tries in the 48th, 51st and 55th minutes courtesy of skipper Clinton Schifcofske, second rower Thom Learooyd-Lars and five-eighth Jason Smith to tighten the scoreline to 30-22.

Raiders winger Adam Mogg added a consolation try after the fulltime siren but it wasn't enough to steal victory from the deserving Sharks.

Raper was full of praise for his injury-depleted side.

"No Noddy, no Dykesy and then losing Thommo and Nige, they are our four most experienced players in the club," he said.

"You start relying on one or two individuals you could get caught out when they're injured or when they're on an off game.

'We're keeping in control of the way we play, we're playing some smart footy."

It was a different story for Raiders coach Matt Elliott.

"They tried harder than us, it's that simple," he said.

It took just three minutes for the Sharks to open the scoring via hooker Kevin Kingston, with Simmons and Vagana next to cross Canberra's line before Canberra finally responded in the 18th minute when centre David Howell intercepted the ball.

Cronulla lock Paul Gallen scored a soft try from dummy half in the 21st minute and Bailey crossed for his team's fifth try in the 24th minute to give Cronulla a 24-6 halftime lead.

Cameron Ciraldo added to the Sharks' lead in the opening minutes of the second half before the momentum suddenly shifted in Canberra's favour with the three successive tries.

Simmons sealed the match for the visitors in the 66th minute when he crossed for his second try of the match.

Thompson will have scans on his knee and Vagana will have his eye reassessed on Monday.

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