Cronulla made light of adversity to hold off a late Warriors fight-back and close out an 18-14 win that consolidates their position in the NRL top eight.
With five-eighth Todd Carney and returning skipper Paul Gallen leading the way, the Sharks lifted themselves to fifth on the ladder.
Coach Shane Flanagan came away from Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium content with what he had seen.
“I was happy with a lot of things,” he said.
“I was happy with the two points, happy with the way we played. We had some tough circumstances there.”
Flanagan said Warriors-bound second rower Jayson Bukuya had been unwell with flu all week and had to be replaced early.
The Sharks also had centre Ben Pomeroy stretchered off after he smacked his head on the ground in the tackle as he provided the pass for winger Nathan Stapleton’s decisive try in the 47th minute.
Flanagan said Pomeroy was feeling fine after the match, but would be monitored to see if he would be available to face Newcastle next weekend.
Gallen was in action for the first time since picking up a foot injury in State of Origin 2 and was an influential figure at lock.
“The body’s fine,” he said.
“I didn’t feel as fit as I normally do. I’m probably carrying a couple more kilos than I would like to, but in all I was pretty happy with my first game back.”
For the Warriors, the defeat was just their second in nine matches, but it meant they spurned the chance to get into the top eight for the first time this year.
The home side paid for their lack of polish in execution at vital times, but they did manage to set up a grandstand finish with two late tries.
Centre Konrad Hurrell got the first with 11 minutes to go when he barged over after the Warriors’ best attack of the game.
Winger Manu Vatuvei chimed in with his second of the night five minutes later after he hauled in a Shaun Johnson bomb.
Johnson’s conversion cut the margin to four points and the five-eighth then made a big break, but his pass to an unmarked Hurrell was wayward.
Coach Matthew Elliott lamented what he saw as an overall lack of energy from his side.
He pointed to the difference in the teams’ ruck speed as an indicator of that.
He also said the amount of Warriors passes that hit the ground and the number of dropped balls showed a lack of concentration.
“It’s like any occupation,” he said.
“If you lack focus or get distracted, which it appears we have done this week, you don’t compete well in this competition.”
Cronulla raced to a 10-0 lead thanks to tries to centre Jonathan Wright and to Pomeroy.
The Warriors hit back when Vatuvei powered through traffic to touch down and make it a 10-4 scoreline at half-time, before Stapleton’s try extended the Sharks’ buffer.
liatrevlis
Guest
Good one oik
Eddie
Guest
And leave Oikee alone. Be boring otherwise..
Eddie
Guest
Jeez, what if Hurrell was on the end of that Johnson pass?! Elliott must be going mental! I reckon if all the old Warriors coaches got together in a pub, there'd be a lotta head shaking (;
Matt
Guest
That is one rule I sure had no idea about.
Matt
Guest
Well, I mean that is getting *very* technical with the rules. Given all the big things they miss as part of the game, sometimes it's frustrating when they nitpick over some minor technicality.
Dragons Forever
Guest
Oikee I'm tipping my Dragons to put ur broncs out of business next Sunday arvo. Can't wait to read ur dribble excuses then lol
Marldon
Guest
The Worries didn't turn up. Probably thought they could win it easy but forgot to factor in the Shonkies luck factor and refs preferance for anything wearing blue.
Marldon
Guest
Matt, I know that it is very unusual for the refs to call against Cronulla in situations like this but the call was correct for the reasons that Oikee points out. Still think the ref must have forgot himself for a moment though and Cronulla fans have a right to be livid because of that.
Marldon
Guest
I thought that the Worries showed flashes of their real capability at times but at others seemed a bit half hearted. Some of the ref's calls against them were a bit suspect as well. That first sharks try was soft and I thought that Gallen was upto his usual tricks.
oikee
Guest
Hehe, who are they up against, league freak,. Maybe i am a little hard on Manly and the Sharks, but they have really given our code a bad name with the brawls and drugs issues. I dont see the Broncos Warriors Cowboys or eels bringing the game into disrepute, year after year. It seems to be the same clubs every year that bring the code under the spotlight, all mainly Sydney clubs.
Renegade
Guest
I'm more concerned about oikee....he changes his stance on every subject at least 3 times a day!!
eagleJack
Guest
The Roar's credibility as being a top sports website dies a little every time they post an oikee comment.
Renegade
Guest
The weakness is definitely in the centres however with the best forward pack in the comp eating their way down the field and Carney working on the back of that, if the centres put in their best effort every week they are a solid chance. They are still off the pace that the top 4 have set however I think the Sharks have the most improvement left in them of any side in top 8.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Considering all the dramas the club has had swirling around it and the players over the past 6 months,to even get into the top 8 ,let alone remain in the top 6,suggests players have welded together as a strongly committed unit. This happens at times in the face of adversity.They should be commended not lambasted ,as the usual mob likes to do.There they were again today faces plastered in the Sunday Telegraph.the organisation that brought in phone taps to get a story. The Warriors at their best,ccan beat anyone,they were not at their best,and met a tremendously committed, well drilled Sharks team. A decent entertaining match to watch as an added benefit.
The eye
Guest
As much as I hope your right Renegade the reality is they are short of class in the centres.Flanno knows this,seems he's chasing Kahu and Lawrence from the Tigers,gets them and they become genuine contenders.
oikee
Guest
Yes, that is correct. These other guys have not got a clue,. Probably why the game is in such a mess,,,armchair cowboys. hehe As i said,the rule was explained byBen Ikin, maybe renegade and spectator could improve their knowledge and read the rules, still the same old dinosaur rules we had last century, hehe
peeeko
Roar Guru
agree totally, he must be very close to getting himself banned from the Roar
Renegade
Guest
The Sharks haven't been at full strength for the entire year....with Lewis and Tupou to come back, this side is going to charge a massive assault on the title. They are getting better each week but still haven't reached their best yet. The warriors are definitely a top 8 side and they didn't give up last night which is something they have historically been guilty of...Trip back to Australia next week against a Manly side playing to their potential is going to be a massive test for them and one I think they know they have to win.
Renegade
Guest
I was certain it was a try as well. Matt raises a good point because Vatuvei did the same thing and it was deemed ok?
Renegade
Guest
I wouldn't take anything Marldon writes seriously Clevo....