Cronulla’s Todd Carney starred as the Sharks beat Brisbane 19-18 in Friday night’s NRL clash at Suncorp Stadium.

In a game light on stars due to State of Origin and injuries, the Sharks five-eighth proved the difference in his 150th first-grade match.

Carney had a hand in all three Cronulla tries and slotted a decisive second-half field goal to heap more pressure on Broncos coach Anthony Griffin.

The Broncos took the lead after a scoreless first half when Josh Hoffman crashed over to end a 167-minute point-scoring drought for the home team.

Carney took control thereafter, sending Michael Gordon and Jayson Bukuya over to put the Sharks ahead.

Broncos fullback Corey Norman then spilt a Carney bomb for Sosaia Feki to capitalise before Carney’s crucial field goal.

Late tries to teenager Corey Oates and Jordan Kahu had the home fans on their feet but it was too little, too late for the struggling Broncos.

The Sharks had earlier lost stand-in skipper Wade Graham to a first-half shoulder injury while Mark Taufua was placed on report for a shoulder charge on Broncos halfback Peter Wallace.