Sharks skipper Trent Barrett will decide after the Origin series whether to play on in the NRL next year, but a recall to the NSW side could provide a fairytale finish.

The veteran five-eighth did his prospects of an Origin call-up no harm with a skilful performance in the Sharks 42-18 mauling of the Roosters on Saturday night.

The 32-year-old was involved in many of the Sharks most threatening moves, scoring a try himself and delivering one perfectly executed 40-20 kick.

Barrett has his fingers crossed as far as Origin selection goes and would love to represent the Blues again.

"It would certainly finish off on a good note, if it's going to be my last year and I will decide after Origin whether I'm in it or not, but I'd love to finish being the NSW five-eighth, that would be a big thing for me," Barrett said.

Upset wins over Parramatta and the Roosters in the past three rounds will enable Barrett to make a more accurate decision about his future.

"I didn't want to make a decision when we were coming off three or four losses in a row, it's a decision I can make now with a clear head now that I'm playing OK, I've had a good long think about it," Barrett said.

"I will make the decision what's best for me and that will be in a couple of weeks."

Despite still being located in the lower reaches of the ladder, the Sharks believe they can still make a run at the finals following their bye next week.

"We are still very confident that we can give the top eight a real good shake," fullback Nathan Gardner said.

Gardner lit-up a soggy SFS with an electrifying solo try when he caught a Braith Anasta bomb and left several Roosters clutching at thin air in a diagonal run to the line which must have covered over 100 metres.

Barrett said Gardner was a good listener and a hard worker who the club needed to retain and compared the 20-year-old to a Sharks icon.

"It's great to watch those things, it's something we haven't had here since the David Peachey days," said Barrett of Gardner who was playing just his fourth first grade game.

Coach Ricky Stuart described the performance as their most complete of the season and, together with lock and NSW Origin aspirant Paul Gallen, felt the team had been threatening to unleash an effort like that in recent weeks.

"It's probably been coming for a few weeks," said Gallen.

While he was circumspect about his own Origin prospects, Gallen agreed with Stuart that props Kade Snowden and Luke Douglas were pushing for NSW Origin selection.

"Snowy and Dougy have been unbelievable ... They are both playing awesome, they certainly wouldn't be far off from NSW," Gallen said.

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