Kade Dykes scored his maiden NRL try in just his second game as Cronulla retained their spot in the top-four with an uncompromising 36-12 win over Wests Tigers at Scully Park in Tamworth.

Dykes is the Sharks' first third-generation player after his father Adam and grandfather John wore the black-white-and-blue.

He played his part in Cronulla's eighth win in their past nine games with his 21st minute try after chasing a kick back on the inside from winger Lachie Miller.

The win also ensured the Sharks leapt over Melbourne into third place on the NRL ladder as they search for a home final with just three rounds left.

The Sharks continued to show no mercy to the joint-venture club this year after belting them 30-4 in round five.

"We had a lot of changes in the backline during the week and thought everyone fulfilled their role well," Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon said.

The Sharks scored four tries in the first half - three off kicks - as they got their attack humming off the back of a 61 per cent possession rate for a 26-6 lead at the break.

Their second half brought another two tries as they made it an uncomfortable night for the out-of-luck Tigers.

"If your attitude isn't right or you under-estimate your opponent, things could have gone wrong," Fitzgibbon said.

Wests Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley admitted the game was lost at halftime.

"We're battling at the moment and we're in a little bit of pain having lost some players since that win against the Broncos. It's a tough time," he said.

That was the Tigers 17th loss for the year and they remain in 15th spot tussling with Gold Coast for the wooden spoon.

Both Matt Ikuvalu and Miller were playing just their third game for Cronulla this year, coming in for the injured Siosifa Talakai and Will Kennedy respectively.

And both wingers scored in the opening 10 minutes.

The Wests Tigers disrupted the flow with hooker Fa'amanu Brown, who spent three seasons at the Sharks, barged over from dummy-half to give his team a sniff at 12-6.

But prop Royce Hunt ran right over the top of fullback Dane Laurie and Dykes had his piece of personal history and the game was indeed getting away from Brett Kimmorley's men.

It only took Cronulla just 13 minutes to score the first points of the second half - another prop barging over, this time Braden Hamin-Uele dragging three defenders with him for a 32-6 lead.

But it lit a small fuse in the Tigers with back rower Luke Gardner getting on the outside of Dykes for a 20-metre dash to the line.

However, Jesse Ramien crossed for his ninth try of the year just before things started to turn sour for the Sharks.

They lost two players to injuries - Toby Rudolf (knee) and Miller (head injury assessment) - and then back rower Teig Wilton was sin-binned for a late tackle on Laurie.