In these tough economic times fans find it hard to flock to stadiums and the Sharks gave their faithful bunch no reason to spend money on them after this dire showing.
Robert du Preez's side looked like a team that wanted to gift the Waratahs their first win in Durban since 2009.
In the end they didn't but in a game in which directionless endeavour outweighed ambition, neither team deserved to win. The Sharks have to wait for their first victory.
They dished out a masterclass on how to waste possession, weird because their 18th-minute try by Lukhanyo Am showed effective phase play and clean offloads.
While the Sharks are clearly working towards an efficient offloading game, the timing of passes is everything.
That, along with safe hands from receivers, were missing.
EARLY TRY FROM FIRST-PHASE BALL
The new ruck laws, that teams are also adjusting to, work in favour of the side that cleans out better and faster.
The Sharks suffered the indignity of conceding a fourth-minute try from first-phase ball through Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon. He sniped around the blind side and the Sharks' short-side defence fell asleep.
Fortunately for the Sharks, the Waratahs no longer have a fearsome scrum and under-fire apprentice tighthead prop Thomas du Toit had an easy outing.
The same couldn't be said of Robert du Preez junior's tactical kicking.
In a swirling wind it left a lot to be desired but crackerjack Waratahs fullback Israel Folau lacked the incisiveness to exploit Du Preez's failing.
A sound Sharks defensive system also had a lot to do with that.
The hosts though were error prone in the other facets, with the five-minute period before the break being their worst.
The turnover they conceded on the Waratahs' line when the hooter sounded took the cake.
Sharks(10) 24
Waratahs (10) 24
Sharks - Tries: Lukhanyo Am (2); Robert du Preez; Conversions: Du Preez (3); Penalty: Du Preez
Waratahs - Tries: Jake Gordon, Michael Hooper, Mitch Short. Conversions: Bernard Foley (3); Penalty: Foley
- At Kings Park Stadium..