The Ricky Stuart-era kicked off in style as Cronulla ended a club record 10-game losing streak with a scrappy 18-0 NRL win over Penrith at Toyota Park.

Playing for the first time under Stuart, the Sharks scored their first win since round 16 last year when they defeated Newcastle 26-16, fullback Brett Kearney the hero with two tries for the home side.

Both four-pointers had the Stuart stamp all over them as they came off the back of set plays, winger Luke Covell putting the icing on the cake with a try right on the bell to send the Sharks players to the sheds to sing the victory song for the first time in almost nine months.

"We've had to work really hard to create confidence in one another and self belief, you only get a lot of self belief through hard work and the boys have worked really hard over the off-season," Stuart said.

"Tonight's win gives us confidence.. the whole group of players have been criticised for an number of months now about how many losses they've had in row ... it's something that we've had to face up to and find out whether it was true or not."

"We're not getting nowhere near ahead of ourselves...there's a lot to practice and learn before we are anywhere near competing for this competition but it's a start tonight."

The match was anything but a great spectacle, the Sharks ability to finish off set plays rare highlights in a performance dominated by sloppy handling and plenty of penalties.

The strict interpretation of the play-the-ball rule caused frustration for players and fans alike, with referee Jared Maxwell pulling up both sides for the most minor of indiscretions.

Kearney, a late call-up to start the match after David Simmons was dropped to Premier League, scored his first try after 13 minutes when he stormed onto an inside ball from lock Greg Bird.

The Panthers lacked any sort of penetration as they looked for a reply with the wind at their backs, the ball finding the ground on countless occasions as the last pass refused to stick.

Two penalty goals after the break extended Cronulla's lead to 10-0, Penrith hooker Luke Priddis lucky not to be placed on report following a lifting tackle on Bird after 53 minutes.

Kearney completed his double and sealed the match 12 minutes from time following a planned switch of play from Kimmorley.

The Panthers were held scoreless for the first time since a 20-0 loss to South Sydney in 1999, new coach Matthew Elliott admitting there was a bit of work to do in attack.

"We just didn't look dangerous at all with the ball and we've got a lot of dangerous people," Elliott said.

"We've got a little bit of work to do there and that's exactly what we'll do.

"Disappointing performances are going to come in the season, I'm happy for it to be in round one."

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