NRL drugs saga catches up with Sharks

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The drugs scandal which has engulfed Cronulla finally caught up with the Sharks on Saturday night, with coach Shane Flanagan admitting his team's NRL campaign is being destroyed by the ongoing investigation.

The Sharks conceded the inaugural Johnny Mannah Cup in a dour 13-6 loss to Parramatta, who bounced back from a 50-0 shellacking at the hands of the Sydney Roosters last round.

The Sharks are central to a widespread investigation into alleged performance-enhancing drug use in the NRL, with at least 14 players believed to be under investigation, and have been regularly thrust under the spotlight in the opening rounds.

They started the year as one of the competition favourites, but now find themselves with just two wins from five games.

Flanagan has steadfastly refused to accept the ASADA investigation as an excuse for poor form to date - but that changed at Parramatta Stadium as he watched his side lurch from one poor attacking option to the next.

'I didn't want to use it as an excuse last week, but I knew it was,' he said.

'... Our boys are a long way off. We've got too much stuff going on off the field.

'They're trying as hard as they can.

'But we all know there's a massive elephant in the room if you want to call it that.

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NRL drugs saga catches up with Sharks