NRL: That'll lift us, says Sharks star after narrow miss

Luke Lewis says Monday's game was "awesome" to watch. Photo / Getty Images

Luke Lewis says the inspiration of the makeshift Cronulla side who almost pulled off one of the biggest boilovers in NRL history can be a catalyst for lifting the beleaguered club from the doldrums.

Hard-hit by doping bans and injury, a never-say-die Sharks team containing seven players with only 10 first grade appearances between them made a huge impression when they lost by only one point - 21-20 in golden-point time to star-studded North Queensland in Townsville on Monday.

Bookies gave the Sharks an enormous +30.5 start to win - the biggest to any side since 1999 - and they were denied only by a Johnathan Thurston field goal in the extra period.

Lewis, who missed the game because of hamstring and knee problems, said yesterday the performance of a team rated as no-hopers lifted the whole club in a season that has lurched from one crisis to another.

"It was awesome to sit back as a player and watch the boys, the way they have come together and then played so well on Monday night," he said.

"I think we are certainly going to be a lot better for it next year."

As a club, the Sharks are no strangers to dramas but this year has been particularly taxing.

Coach Shane Flanagan was suspended by the NRL for a year because of the club's governance issue under his watch in the 2011 season.

Reluctant stand-in coach Peter Sharp quit mid-season leaving rookie under-20s coach James Shepherd to take the reins.

Skipper Paul Gallen, Nathan Gardner, John Morris, Wade Graham and Anthony Tupou were then suspended after the long-running probe by the Australian drugs agency Asada.

"I haven't experienced a season like it," Lewis said.

"I think you have to go through tough times to enjoy the good times. But the good times are ahead."

- AAP