The Warriors held off a tough Cronulla 16-12 at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday with Ngani Laumape scoring a try double.
First-half tries to the home side via Laumape in the seventh and then 24th minute and a typical 30th-minute four-pointer to Manu Vatuvei set up the win for the Warriors, who move up to sixth on the NRL ladder.
Tinirau Arona scored in the 14th minute for the visitors, for whom injured captain Paul Gallen (biceps) was a late withdrawal.
The Warriors couldn’t manage a point after the interval, with Sosaia Feki leaping onto a Jeff Robson cross-kick in the 59th minute to bring the Sharks within reach.
Cronulla pressed late in the game, but the Warriors defence was up to the task, some hot potato football on their own line as the siren sounded not enough for the Sharks to force the issue.
The loss leaves Cronulla at the bottom of the ladder.
Don Marl
Guest
The Warriors were dreadful today, what an an awful display. It really looked like they didn't want to be there. They may have got the points but they will need to to raise their game considerably when they meet serious competition.
Johnk
Guest
Dammit if only they lost, I had a multi paying out $880. But in all seriousness, good win by the warriors. They would have easily lost a game like that last year.