The Warriors were less than convincing in that second half but have still got away with a 4-point win against the Sharks.
Plenty of dropped ball today. Politoni had a big chance to set up Michael Gordon but failed to find the flyer.
The win moves the Warriors into eighth and they’ll face the Knights next week.
FINAL SCORE:
Warriors 16
Sharks 12
The Cronulla Sharks make the trip across the ditch to face the in-form New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:45pm (AEST).
Last week the Warriors hammered cellar dwellers Canberra 54-18 and Cronulla will be hoping to avoid the same fate, entering the match having gone down 32-12 to the Eels.
CATCH UP ON THE LATEST NRL HIGHLIGHTS:
>>Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bulldogs
>>Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
>>Parramatta Eels vs Canberra Raiders
>>Newcastle Knights vs Melbourne Storm
A win for the Warriors will see them begin to consolidate their eighth place whilst a loss for Cronulla could see them remain anchored in sixteenth place.
The Warriors though will be without halfback Shaun Johnson and centre Konrad Hurrell. Ngani Laumape moves to the centres with Tuimoala Lolohea taking his place on the wing.
Thomas Leuluai will remain at halfback with Jayson Bukuya coming off the bench against his former team.
For Cronulla, they welcome back captain Paul Gallen, but have lost Luke Lewis, Jacob Gagan, Wade Graham and Anthony Tupou, all due to injury.
Junior Roqica, Matt Prior and Tim Robinson have joined an extended bench, whilst former Warrior, Sosaia Feki will line up against Manu Vatuvei.
The biggest danger for the Warriors appears to be their own mindset following a big win. In every match they’ve played this season, following a 20-point win, they’ve lost.
The Warriors though, will be primed for a big match, especially against a Cronulla side that has retreated more than the French military, having given up 30,461 metres so far this season.
The men from Auckland love to throw the ball around and should they begin to do that, it could be a long and lonely afternoon for Cronulla.
The big match-ups will be seen in the middle with Andrew Fifita and Paul Gallen, leading the way against Jacob Lillyman and Simon Mannering. Gallen’s return will be a big boost for Cronulla whilst Jacob Lillyman has been one of the form props this season.
This match will be one that the Warriors will look to break their Cronulla hoodoo, having lost five consecutive games to the men from the Shire.
I struggle to see how Cronulla can match it against the Warriors today. Even without Johnson and Hurrell, the Warriors have points in them across the park and are against a team who blew opportunity after opportunity against the Eels.
The loss of Lewis and Tupou will be felt and with an inexperienced centre/wing combination in Feki and Leutele – you can expect plenty of traffic down that side.
The Warriors will simply be too strong this afternoon.
Warriors by 16.
Stacey
Guest
The commentators on this Warriors vs Cronulla game talks so much crap. Rather watch the game with the TV on mute.
steveng
Guest
These two clubs are still at a never achievable battle to even make the 8 but as for Cronulla irrespective of what or how they play after all their disasters with Carney, ESADA no one knows where they will end up which is so relavant to what Jack Gibson once commented a very long time ago on the Cronulla Sharks long premiership drought “Waiting for Cronulla to win a premiership is like leaving the porch lamp on for Harold Holt”, lol, and it’s still so relevant today.
Renegade
Guest
Mate, I had them as title contenders at the start of the year but the off field issues and injuries killed that... They are still better than their current ladder position though. The youngsters coming through look very promising and will only get better. They'll obviously be a better side next year but I wrote somewhere else that they are a quality halfback away from being heavyweights in the next couple seasons.... Wouldn't mind the bloke wearing the #7 jersey for your mob ;) haha
Planko
Guest
Renegade if they can sort out the off field issues they were top 8 IMO
Planko
Guest
We're you unlucky against Manly ?
Renegade
Guest
The pleasing part for the sharks is that they have 60% of the salary cap on the sidelines. Having to fly over to NZ for the game, captain pulling out before kick-off... Had every reason to throw the towel in but the youngsters just went about their business. Attitude is everything and on that basis...this team is going places over the next few years.
Gazzatron
Guest
Still lost. I enjoy the one time every 10 years that the Warriors get the rub of the green. It still doesn't make up for the week to week hammering they get from the refs though. Sharks defended their line well but couldn't stop the Warriors Go forward. They made easy yards through the middle every set of six and should have been up by 20 at half time. The Warriors looked lost on attack without Hurrell and Johnson and losing Neilson didn't help as he didn't play too bad today. Not a win for the ages but I'll take the 2 points for once as normally the Warriors would have lost this type of game
Rosemarie Clark
Guest
Maybe next sharks
Digby
Roar Guru
Thanks SuperEel. Had to work today and appreciated the updates!
Renegade
Guest
A lot of pride and heart in the sharks performance today... Courageous effort. They were expected to lose by 30 yet were a Politini pass away from winning. The better team lost in my opinion.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Warriors 16 Sharks 12 FULL TIME The Warriors were less than convincing in that second half. Plenty of dropped ball. Politoni had a big chance to set up Michael Gordon but failed to find the flyer. That moves the Warriors into eighth and they'll face the Knights next week.
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
Warriors 16-12 Sharks
Planko
Guest
Nothing in the rule book on swinging your arms in fact it helps you run ...
Renegade
Guest
Planko
Guest
Replay showed he did not hit him in the head ...
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Warriors 16 Sharks 12 79 min gone Mannering dives on the loose ball and that should be the game.
Planko
Guest
Well played sharkies
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
Oh well.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Warriors 16 Sharks 12 78 min gone Cronulla will have one set to score
WQ
Guest
They must have classes at Cronulla held by Gallen on how to whinge at Referees!