Cronulla are facing the prospect of going into the NRL finals without both of their Australian representatives after skipper Paul Gallen was put on report in Friday night's 32-6 win over Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.

As was expected following a week which began with news Greg Bird had been arrested over his alleged involvement in a glassing incident at his Cronulla home, the Sharks burst out of the gates before kicking clear late in the game, by which time the Tigers had given up the ghost.

But the five tries to one win may have come at a high cost with Gallen put on report for a 58th minute high shot on Ryan O'Hara, the fiery backrower catching O'Hara around the chin after racing up out of the line.

With Bird not expected to be seen in a Sharks jumper again this season - if ever again - the Sharks could ill-afford to lose another of their stars if they are to make any impact in this year's finals series, which begin in a fortnight's time.

Friday night's win lifted them level with ladder leaders Melbourne on 36 competition points, but the performance would have given coach Ricky Stuart little guide as to his side's finals credentials.

The Tigers offering little resistance, especially over an insipid opening half hour, in what proved to be an unfitting home finale for veteran fullback Brett Hodgson.

The Sharks ran up a 20-0 lead during that period via tries to Misi Taulapapa, Luke Covell and Fraser Anderson, the visitors tearing apart a Tigers defence which played like it knew it's finals hopes had been dashed with last week's loss to Manly.

Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall conjured up a try for Bronson Harrison late in the first half, but the Sharks did their best to take the life out of the game in the second half as halves Brett Seymour and Brett Kimmorley looked to find touch at every opportunity.

It killed off not only the game, but also the Tigers, Seymour pouncing on an O'Hara dropped ball that no-one wanted to pick up before racing 30 metres to put the game beyond doubt 13 minutes from time before Brett Kearney picked up a late four-pointer.

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