The Warriors claimed an amazing upset in a high scoring affair at PointsBet Stadium, recording only their third 20+ point comeback in club history.
Result
New Zealand Warriors 32
Tries: (5) Wayde Egan 21st; Marata Niukore 29th; Shaun Johnson 45th; Edward Kosi 51st; Josh Curran 67th
Goals: (5) Shaun Johnson 22nd, 30th, 46th, 53rd, 69th, 79th
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 30
Tries: (5) Ronaldo Mulitalo 4th, 55th; Teig Wilton 1st; Sione Katoa 14th; William Kennedy 26th
Goals: (4) Nicholas Hynes 2nd, 6th, 15th, 18th, 28th
Report
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks continued where they left off from their thrashing of the St. George Illawarra Dragons last week with an extremely early try from Teig Wilton just over one minute into the game.
They continued their dominance through the first quarter of the game, and extended their lead to 18 points with tries from Ronaldo Mulitalo and Sione Katoa.
Nicho Hynes continued the assault off the tee with a penalty shot on 18 minutes in to take the lead out to 20 points before the Warriors managed to make inroads with a try from Wayde Egan.
The points continued to flow with seemingly optional defence and Will Kennedy added to the Sharks’ lead. Marata Niukore cancelled out Kennedy’s effort with a try of his own with just 10 minutes of the half to play. The final 10 minutes, by contrast to the rest of the half, stayed scoreless and the Cronulla Sharks went in to the sheds at half time 26-12 up and a man up after Marata Niukore was sent for 10 minutes for a dangerous tackle.
The Sharks didn’t capitalise on the sin bin, however, and the Warriors started the second half the better of the two sides. After shelling out criticism of his opposing winger in the first half, Ronaldo Mulitalo dropped a high bomb from Shaun Johnson, who then cleaned up the bouncing ball to go over and cut the lead to eight points after converting his own try with just over five minutes played.
Mulitalo endured more embarrassment shortly after with his opposing winger, Edward Kosi, scoring to cut the Sharks’ lead down to one score. He managed to redeem himself, however, with a try of his own five minutes later in the 56th minute to score and give the Sharks some breathing room while mouthing off to the Warriors again.
He was made to look a fool by Johnson for a second time though, dropping another one of his high bombs for the Warriors to regain possession. The Warriors then pressed the Sharks’ line with the ensuing sets and ultimately powered over through Josh Curran to level the scores.
With the two sides trading blows at 30-30, Dale Finucane was sent to the sin bin for a hip drop tackle with six minutes to play. On the following penalty, the Warriors couldn’t take their advantage and missed touch in the Cronulla half.
In the closing stages Cronulla looked to most likely to break the deadlock and began playing loose attacking rugby in the pouring rain. It eventually spelled their demise with a frantic pass in the Warriors’ half missing its target and Josh Curran hacking it on into the Sharks’ half. Curran couldn’t regain the ball, however, with Matt Moylan getting there first but the officials clocked a penalty against Royce Hunt to give Johnson a chance to put the Warriors in the lead with a minute to play. Johnson obliged and the Warriors looked to be heading back to New Zealand with the win.
It wasn’t over yet though, with the Warriors failing to regain possession after the kick off and Johnson playing at the ball from an offside position on the touchline, giving Nicho Hynes a final chance at a penalty to level it up with a very tough kick. Hynes sliced the kick right and the Warriors scored another upset on the road.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Shaun Johnson (Warriors)
2 – Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors)
1 – Jesse Ramien (Sharks)
