'Really poor': Dragons blow another 12-point lead as Sharks clinch local derby

St George Illawarra have blown a 12-point lead for the third time this season, giving up a half-time advantage against local rivals Cronulla.

It marks another disappointing defeat for Shane Flanagan's men, who fell 30-18 at Shark Park in tough windy conditions on Thursday night.

The hosts were denied an early try by the Bunker, but it mattered little as Blayke Brailey sliced through some sloppy defence soon after to set up Braydon Trindall.

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Damien Cook then wound back the clock with a blistering solo try to level the scores, taking advantage of a late offload from Emre Guler and racing past multiple defenders.

The visitors soon took the lead through Lyhkan King-Togia, who received a hospital pass on last tackle but created something out of nothing and forced his way over.

"Special effort that was," Cameron Smith said on Nine.

"He breaks the tackle of two front-rowers and reaches out. Incredible effort."

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The game turned further in St George Illawarra's favour before half-time when Jesse Ramien was sin binned for a professional foul and moments later, Jack de Belin beat three defenders on his way to the line to score the side's third try.

"That was a soft one," Andrew Johns said on commentary.

"Have a look at the body language from the Sharks as they walk off at half-time."

Sharks legend Paul Gallen had similar thoughts after the Red V's three-straight tries.

"Some of those tries were really poor, soft defence," he said at half time.

"After the last few weeks, they've really got to get that fixed."

After the break, the Sharks found a renewed energy and Briton Nikora scored one of his trademark short-ball tries to celebrate his 150th game in style.

Things continued to unravel for the Dragons in the second half when Trindall made it a double, before Nathan Lawson's error under the high ball gifted Sione Katoa an easy try off the subsequent scrum as Cronulla surged back into the lead once again.

"That's terrible defence, they just let him run on the outside ... really poor," Johns said.

With time starting to become an issue for the Dragons, a failed captain's challenge went against David Klemmer, who was penalised for taking Cameron McInnes without the ball as the Sharks skipper ran a fast-paced decoy close to the line.

Not everyone was on board with the decision from Grant Atkins or the video officials.

"He has to commit - you can not pull out there, that's unfortunate," Johns said.

The referees came under fire again from the following kick off, when the ball was ruled to not have travelled 10 metres before Luciano Leilua despite replays to the contrary.

"They don't have a challenge left either," Smith quipped on commentary.

With the visitors searching for a late try to send it to extra time, King-Togia placed a nice chip kick for himself and looked to grubber it ahead, but it landed straight in the hands of Katoa and the Sharks flyer ran 60 metres to score.

"It was gutsy - he could have got a knee to the head, that is such a courageous effort," Johns said as the winger raced away.

Cronulla saw off some last-ditch attempts from the Saints to score a crucial victory.

"They were dusty early, but they got the job done in the end," Smith said at full time.