NRL: Sharks savour rare triumph

He admits it was one of his worst ever kicks on goal, but Trent Barrett says watching his last-gasp field goal somehow creep over Parramatta's crossbar to help end Cronulla's long wait for a NRL win was a moment he will treasure.

The 31-year-old had only tasted victory once since moving to the Sharks after a spell in England, as Saturday's dour 13-10 victory over Parramatta at a sodden Parramatta Stadium ended a run of nine successive defeats for Ricky Stuart's side.

"I hit it horrible but it went over," Barrett said.

"We have been in matches all year and that has been what has been hard to take when we have lost, we turn up for training, front up and for one reason or another we just couldn't win.

"Although that kick was really ugly ... they haven't been going over for 10 weeks and hopefully that is a turning point for our season."

The Sharks celebrated victory like they had won a grand final at the final hooter and Barrett said the victory was a boost for everyone connected with the beleaguered club.

"Everyone is elated, there is a lot of happy, relieved boys in the dressing room and it is great to see ... it is a real reward for everyone's hard work over the last few weeks."

Barrett admitted he didn't know the words to the Sharks' song Up, Up Cronulla. He paid tribute to Stuart in what has been a nightmare season for the club. "I have only sung it once," he said.

"We have been to hell and back this season and hopefully this is the week we can turn the corner and focus on the footy. If we had a coach who is not as strong as "Sticky" [Stuart] the whole joint would have fallen apart."

Stuart's decision to draft in Scott Porter at halfback for his first grade debut proved to be successful with the 24-year-old, who has spent time with Sydney Roosters and playing in the Queensland Cup before moving to the Sharks, impressing alongside Barrett.

"The young blokes like Scotty and Johnny Mannah were terrific, it has been hard on them the last few weeks when we have not been winning and it is hard bringing young blokes into a losing team and I thought a lot of young blokes were our best players," said Barrett.

Stuart was also full of praise for Porter's performance.

"I was really pleased for him, he played an outstanding game I am not going to exaggerate anything because we won ... but I said to Ports after our last session that I have never seen a more comfortable debutant," Stuart said.

"The way he found the ground with his kicks ... he gave us a really big kick chase ... it is really hard to step in at halfback in the NRL and especially in a struggling team and I thought he did a terrific job."

- AAP