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New Zealand have recorded a last gasp victory over Cronulla as they move into the top 8.
WARRIORS 20
CRONULLA 16
In a match dominated by penalties, with 21 in the game, the Warriors would score in the final minute to win the contest.
It was a close contest with the lead changing hands multiple times in the match.
After a scoreless opening 15 minutes, the Warriors were the first to score, as Jonathon Wright scored near the touch line on the right hand side.
Six minutes later, Cronulla would take the lead, through a clever kick from Michael Ennis.
A dribble kick got a handy deflection from the Warriors which allowed Luke Lewis to gather the ball and score.
The Warriors would respond and take the lead back through a Manu Vatuvei try in the 30th minute.
At half time, after a late Cronulla penalty goal, scores were level at 8-8.
Another penalty goal, four minutes later, would give the Sharks the lead at 10-8.
As both teams tried to score again, the Warriors would level again at 10-10, through a penalty goal of their own.
When Kata would score a great try in the corner after 74 minutes, thanks to a wonderful kick from Johnson, the Warriors looked home with a 14-10 lead.
A knock on though put Cronulla back into the contest with great field position.
Andrew Fifita would then beat four defenders and run through to score a big try for Cronulla with three minutes to go.
They led 16-14 and looked home.
This looked better for them after they won the ball back from a short kick off and went for a kick on the last tackle.
What happened next though was extraordinary.
Robson’s kick would be smothered by Ryan Hoffman who ran to 40 metres out.
On the next play, the Warriors would pass to Johnson, who would do the rest.
The half back would beat four defenders, throw a couple of dummies, and run over the line to win the game for the Warriors.
It was an incredible finish to a game that was frustrating to watch for fans.
Plenty of penalties, and poor attacking mistakes, cost both teams dearly.
The Warriors now move inside the top 8 and face Parramatta next week in Sydney.
The loss for Cronulla was compounded with a broken jaw to Anthony Tupou.
He was hit by a stray leg from Konrad Hurrell as the centre made a break through the middle of the ground.
Tupou was taken to hospital and will be out for a few weeks.
The Sharks will now travel to the Gold Coast to take on the Titans.
A position in the top 8 is on the line today as the New Zealand Warriors travel to the shire to take on the Cronulla Sharks at Remondis Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the game from 5:30pm AEST.
With results going the way of both clubs, who are 13th and 14th on the ladder, a win could put them in the top 8 at the end of the round.
After losing their first four matches, that was almost an impossible thought for the Sharks after Round 4.
Now with three wins out of their last four matches that becomes a possibility. This includes wins over the Rabbitohs and the Roosters.
Despite a loss to the Panthers in Round 8 the Sharks are full of confidence after their last month of football.
They face a team who has had a big week off the field.
Plenty of their players were involved in the ANZAC test last week as New Zealand upset Australia in Brisbane.
The news got better for them yesterday with the signing in 2016 of Isaac Luke from South Sydney.
With Shaun Kenny-Dowall also joining the club, the Warriors are recruiting well for next year.
New Zealand though will be focusing on this week and ending a two game losing streak.
They have also only won once away from home this year and have yet to win in Sydney in 2015.
In recent meetings between the two, the Sharks have dominated with 5 of the last 6 wins between the two.
Last year though the Warriors defeated the Sharks in New Zealand in the only clash for the season.
In Sydney the Sharks have won four of the last five.
This match is a genuine 50/50 contest and both teams can win. What might decide the contest is how the week off impacts both teams.
We saw last night how all teams were impacted in some way by the week off. How that impacts on both teams will be fascinating.
The Warriors record in Sydney is a worry and the Sharks have played well at home against them. If the match was in New Zealand, you would tip them to win today.
With the match in Sydney, and with Cronulla’s recent form, you have to lean towards the home team.
Prediction: Cronulla by 2.
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