The Jets will now face defending premiers Gerringong and will be regretting the missed opportunity after their 12-nil lead was run down by the Sharks in the final 15 minutes.

There was no splitting the two sides for the first half as they went to the sheds at nil-all.

However, the first 40 minutes was still an end to end affair as both sides threw all they had at each other.

The Jets dominated possession in the opening stages and aided by a succession of penalties tested the Sharks’ line early.

Evergreen prop Mick Blattner looked as if he might open the scoring after a neat ruck play, but the veteran lost the ball over line.

Shellharbour weren’t the only ill-disciplined side and the Sharks enjoyed there own run of possession deep in Jets territory but they too struggled to get the ball over the line.

While penalties and errors were a common occurrence, it was the Jets who were the more enterprising of the two sides and their right hand attack was causing the Sharks some problems.

Centre Zac Kershaw came close on a number of occasions and the three-quarter was probably guilty of holding the ball when he should have passed to his winger on at least one occasion.

Shellharbour’s best chance of the opening stanza came through a Jai Dormer break, but the pivot was dragged down just before the line and the score line remained unchanged at the half.

The opening stages of the second half again saw the Jets dominate possession and this time they capitalised on the opportunity.

Five-eighth Steven Brandon stood-up his man with some nice footwork and crossed under the posts.

Mark Brandon converted for 6-nil to the Jets.

The visitors soon extended their lead when they opted to go for the two following a Shellharbour infringement and Mark Brandon snuck the shot at goal in for 8-nil.

The Jets had their tails up and they soon extended their lead again thanks to some luck, Geoff Johnson’s clearing click deflected off a Shellharbour player and the ball bounced perfectly into Mark Brandon’s hands and the winger raced away for his 28th try of the year.

Just as the Jets looked to be gaining the ascendancy a kick out on the full by Johnson proved to be the turning point.

Shellharbour quickly took advantage of the prime field position and prop Harold Snell barrelled his way over under the posts.

In the ensuing set the Sharks, with the help of a penalty, rolled up field and proceeded to level the scores.

Bronx Goodwin plucked a cross-field kick from the air and then converted his own try to level the score at 12-all.

The game had well and truly swung to the home side and they soon took the lead.

A shot at field goal hit the up-right, but managed to earn the Sharks a repeat set.

The extra set proved too much for the Jets and veteran Sharks’ winger Jamie Manukonga somehow managed to ground the ball in the midst of a number of defenders for what would be a match winning 16-12 lead.

Some poor handling gave the Jets one last crack at the Sharks, but the home side managed to hold on until the final siren.

For Shellharbour Snell, Hans Schuster and Craig Stapleton had big games, while Ben Wellington, Matt Rouen and Ben Lahene did all they could for the Jets.