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Following a Melbourne thrashing, interim Cronulla coach Josh Hannay says there is a sizeable gulf between his team's good and bad NRL form.

Interim Cronulla coach Josh Hannay says he's searching to a find a way to turn the Sharks into an 80-minute team after they coughed up a halftime lead against Melbourne to lose 40-14.

Cronulla dominated a poor Storm outfit in the first half at AAMI Park on Friday night and were unlucky to only lead by two points.

But with the home side crossing for seven second-half tries, Cronulla's inability to put together an 80-minute performance has left them with just two wins for the season.

"The reality is that we're a 40 to 50-minute football team at the moment, whether it's first half or second," Hannay said.

"This week our start was strong and last week it was poor but our back end was really strong and that's something we talk about and it's frustrating for everyone.

"First half there's a top-eight football team out there and second half there's a bottom half; the difference between our good and bad is enormous."

Hannay, who is in the hot-seat until Craig Fitzgibbon takes over next season, said the team struggled to stay composed when things didn't go their way.

"When that intercept pass got thrown in the second half and they scored, I've got no doubt there's a little bit of 'oh no here we go again' and heads drop.

"Good footy sides smell the blood in the water and they went after us.

"We're looking for a bit of luck to get things going our way again but sometimes you've got to bite down on the mouth guard and work hard to get back in the contest."

The Sharks are hopeful Wade Graham will be available to face Penrith next round after their skipper passed a HIA late in the game, although given the timing and scoreline he had an early shower.

But reserve prop Braden Hamlin-Uele will be sidelined with a syndesmosis injury.

"It doesn't look great - he's on crutches," Hannay said.

"I feel for Braden as he came on and he was a powerhouse at the back-end of that first half and really made an impact so hopefully it's not too bad."

New recruit Will Chambers, playing his first NRL match against his former side Melbourne, had a mixed bag but Hannay thought he would be value to the team.

"He worked hard but he was hot and cold," the coach said.

"I like what Will brings to the group - he's a professional, he's a winner and the more people we can have like that through a tough situation to lean on, the better."