Storm's unbeaten start to the season has come to an end, going down to the Sharks 11-2 at AAMI Park.
In tough conditions, Melbourne struggle to generate long period of momentum and were forced to defend for much of the day.
Despite only surrendering the one try for the match, Craig Bellamy's men were unable to find one of their own.
Young Tonumaipea had a team-high 127 metres in his return to the side while Felise Kaufusi was brave all day with 50 tackles.
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The purple wall was put under incredible pressure early in the came as the Sharks threw everything at Melbourne in the wet.
Some individual brilliant was needed to swing the momentum and it would be the genius of Cooper Cronk that would provide it.
In the 16th minute the superstar halfback produced a 40-20 (or more like a 30-10) kick to put Cronulla on the back foot.
The pressure told as the visitors surrendered a penalty seconds later, allowing Cameron Smith to convert a penalty in front of the posts for a 2-0 lead.
The Sharks should have taken the lead on 29 minutes but had only themselves to blame when Jack Bird threw a forward pass when a try seemed all but certain.
The arm wrestle continued in the tough conditions, as both teams failed to control the ball in tough conditions, resulting in the soccer-like 2-nil half-time score line.
The first ten minutes after the restart belong entirely to Melbourne as they forced Cronulla well and truly on the back foot.
But in a mirror-mage of the first half, Storm were unable to find a way through before the Sharks kicked a penalty against the run of play to level the scores.
Teams traded sets for the next 20 minutes before the deadlock was broken via the boot of James Maloney who converted a field goal in front of the posts.
James Segeyaro then scored a try under the posts to seal victory for the visitors with seven minutes to play.
Melbourne Storm 2
Goal: Cameron Smith
Cronulla Sharks 11
Tries: James Segeyaro
Goals: James Maloney 3
