South Sydney couldn't quite snatch their first win of the season although a bizarre mid-game pep talk from coach Jason Taylor during the 12-10 loss to Cronulla may have jeopardised the two competition points even if they had.

The Sharks fought off a gutsy fightback to inflict the winless Rabbitohs' fifth loss of the season.

They now join Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Roosters at the top of the NRL ladder.

First-half tries to Greg Bird and Luke Covell had the Sharks sitting pretty at 12-0 but a four-pointer to John Sutton just before halftime and another to winger Beau Champion early in the second-half got the Bunnies within sight of a much-needed win.

Cronulla's determined defence saw them hang on but the major talking point of the game was a second-half incident which resembled scenes usually reserved for the NBA or NFL.

Taylor called all of his players - except goalkicker Nathan Merritt - over the sideline and into a huddle after Champion's second-half try for some coaching on-the-run.

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley confirmed after the match players leaving the field without permission was against the rules, saying the club would get a warning but declared it "wasn't the crime of the century."

But Sharks coach Stuart said the Rabbitohs should have been stripped of the two points had they run down the Sharks.

"What I do know is if they had have won they wouldn't have got the two points, because it's against the rules, you're not allowed to do that," Stuart said.

"I don't know what happened, but he's going through a tough time, I feel for Jason.

"Every coach goes through it and it's a very lonely situation. But when you're in this type of rut those things happen."

Taylor said he simply wanted to get a message to all of his players and said he was not aware it was against the rules until after the game.

"I knew I wasn't allowed to approach the sideline so I got the boys to come to me and you can't do that either," Taylor said.

" ... The answer is you can't talk to them as a coach, I suppose that's what the runner's for, it's a learning experience and we'll move on."

The Rabbitohs had the better of the possession and the scoring chances late in the second half and were only denied victory by the stubborn Sharks defence.

Stuart paid tribute to the defensive effort but knew his side would have to put more on the board to remain at the top-end of the ladder come season's end.

"They've got confidence in defence ... but we're trying to throw that same energy into our attack," Stuart said.

"But I'm really proud of how they handled themselves and that adversity there in defence."

Stuart described the first 30 minutes as Cronulla's best of the year, particularly in attack with Covell latching on to a superb Brett Seymour grubber kick to score the best try of the game.

Taylor noted a marked improvement in his side.

"We're still a bit of a way off but I think it was clear to see there was an improved performance," Taylor said.

"Our commitment to what we had do for 80 minutes was there."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP