Cronulla's flagging NRL season is back on track after they notched up a third-straight win, 24-22 over Canberra at Canberra Stadium.

The Sharks scored five tries to the Raiders four.

Canberra five-eighth Terry Campese and his Cronulla counterpart Trent Barrett both had solid games ahead of New South Wales State of Origin selection.

Raiders backrower Tom Learoyd-Lahrs also strengthened his representative chances by opening the home side's account with a try in the sixth minute off a Campese pass.

The star pivot was at it again 15 minutes later, this time popping a bomb over to fellow Blues contender Joel Monaghan whose four points took the Raiders to a 10-0 lead.

The home side faltered when halfback Marc Herbert failed to catch a Cronulla kick-off and the ball bounced straight back to the Sharks and ultimately result in a try to Nathan Stapleton in the 24th minute.

Cronulla then pressured the Raiders defence until it cracked, Barrett helping lock Paul Gallen put one over in the 32nd minute to even the score 10-10.

Herbert redeemed himself three minutes later, assisting backrower Bronson Harrison stroll through a non-existent Cronulla defence to give Canberra back the advantage 14-10 at half-time.

The Raiders returned to the ground firing, with young gun Jarrod Croker scoring in the 43rd minute, but then the Sharks took control.

Centre Matthew Wright went over in 56th minute followed closely by Ben Pomeroy whose try off a lucky bounce evened the scores again at 20-20.

Campese edged the Raiders ahead with a penalty goal in the 69th minute but Gallen's late four-pointer handed the Sharks their third victory after nine losses.

Canberra's Trevor Thurling suffered a corked knee and a head knock, and he was also put on report for taking the legs out from under a kicker early in the game.