Cronulla five-eighth Wade Graham has credited his spectacular return to form to playing alongside young halfback Chad Townsend.

Graham has been a revelation in the Sharks' four-game winning streak, finally beginning to realise some of his huge potential back in the No.6 jersey after a stint at halfback himself.

It's difficult to believe Graham, who debuted three seasons ago with Penrith, is still only 20.

But, playing his 58th NRL game in Saturday night's 26-12 win over Canberra, he was everywhere, scoring a try, creating another with a grubber and cranking out 106m with two line breaks.

"I was pretty disappointed with my first half of the year, and there were a few reasons for that," he said.

"Obviously settling in (since coming from Penrith) and there was a lot of chopping and changing in the halves.

"But I had a chat with Flanno (coach Shane Flanagan) and we sat down and sort of decided that we'd brush that and I'd put all my energy and all my focus into having a better second half of the year."

Townsend, who is also 20, appears to have cured a headache for Flanagan after injuries to Albert Kelly and Scott Porter and Tim Smith's inability to recapture his early-career form.

"He's really settled that role down at seven and it's allowed me a bit more freedom to play as a six and it's been good," Graham said.

"He's only played five games of first grade yet he's so calm on the field.

"He's a natural seven, he takes a lot of (the kicking) pressure so it's good to be a bit more free and be able to play a bit more footy with Chad taking control in there."

Graham, who has played all 16 games in 2011 despite sternum and knee niggles, said the Sharks had set themselves a goal before their streak of wins over Canterbury, Gold Coast, South Sydney and the Raiders.

Their run has now set up a tantalising derby with premiers St George Illawarra on Monday week, with the Sharks having already downed the Dragons in a brutalround two show of forward strength.

"As long as we don't lose focus and realise that if you look back a month-and-a-half everyone was saying 'oh the same old Cronulla Sharks, down the bottom of the table'," Graham said.

"We set ourselves a goal a month ago to really have a crack and have a good month, and we did that and now we've obviously got to sit down tomorrow and re-evaluate where we're going.

"We've just got to keep our heads on, there's still (eight) weeks to go."

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