Round 18 NRL action began at the Warriors’ second home, Wellington’s Westpac Stadium, and the ‘cake tin’ played host to a wet and slippery encounter between two desperate teams.
Off the back of four straight losses, another defeat for John Morris’ Sharks threatened to make semi-final football highly unlikely in 2019.
Despite the Warriors living another inconsistent and frustrating season, they sat just one point behind the Sharks leading into the match, knowing a win would keep their somewhat remote finals chances alive for at least one more week.
A penalty goal to Issac Luke had the Warriors in front early before a ninth-minute try to Briton Nikora proved the perfect response for the visitors.
When Matt Moylan scythed through the Warriors defence just moments later and Chad Townsend supported through the centre to score, the favoured Sharks looked set to take control.
Shaun Johnson converted both tries and the floodgates appeared likely to open. To the Warriors credit, they didn’t and, when Blake Green crossed after a great solo run in the 24th minute, the conversion saw the visitors back within four points and down 12-8.
What followed was a flow of possession and pressure for the Warriors and how the Sharks kept them scoreless in the lead up to half-time is something of a mystery. Going into the break, the home side looked well on top and the Sharks were staring down the well of a fifth consecutive defeat.
After the break, the Warriors kept brewing and a questionable decision to kick a penalty goal in the 55th minute brought them within two points.
As is often the case with penalty goals that sacrifice field position and have the conceding team pleased their line remained intact, the momentum swung quickly and Sosaia Feki crossed in the corner for the Sharks within minutes.
Johnson’s precise conversion stretched the lead to 18-10, yet the teeter-totter nature of the match was to continue when Kodi Nikorima burst through some poor Cronulla defence to score a converted try in the 63rd minute.
With 15 minutes remaining and the Sharks ahead 18-16, the proverbial grandstand finish seemed likely.
And then, from nowhere yet somewhat predictably, the ill-disciplined footballing goose struck again. Andrew Fifita produced a needless late and shoulder driven hit on a Cronulla decoy runner to gift the Warriors two points and condemn himself to ten minutes in the sin bin.
Andrew Fifita had another brain snap. (AAP Image/Joe Castro)
That was all the momentum the Warriors required and despite a few hairy moments, Blake Green iced the game in the 76th minute with a successful field goal attempt. The Sharks had a late chance to level through Townsend, yet his field goal attempt drifted wide and the Warriors condemned the Sharks to yet another loss.
In the later game, Penrith jumped the Dragons early at Panthers Stadium after a dubious try to Brian To’o and a Brent Naden four-pointer set up an early 10-0 lead for the home side.
Losing three from their last four, things began to look familiarly ominous for the Dragons. However, after a poor James Maloney kick crossed the sideline on the full, they managed to swing the tide of possession.
Mikaele Ravalawa scored in the corner almost immediately and Josh Kerr stormed over the line after excellent lead-up work from Cameron McInnes in the 35th minute. The Corey Norman conversion sent the Dragons to an unlikely 12-10 lead before To’o beat appalling defence from Kerr and Korbin Sims to cross late in the half and re-establish the Panthers’ lead prior to the break.
Seeking their seventh win on the trot and holding a 16-12 lead, the second half presented a season-defining opportunity for Penrith.
They came to the party and parlayed the late first-half points into a quick start in the second. Tries to Moses Leota, Nathan Cleary and Naden’s second saw them skip clear to a 34-12 lead after 57 minutes.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard crashed over in the 61st to further embarrass the Dragons and holding a 40-12 lead, Penrith were well and truly home in front of a raucous home crowd.
New South Wales forward Paul Vaughan did manage to cross the line late for the Dragons to pull the Red V back within 22, yet his try came against 12 men, as Penrith forward Viliame Kikau sat in the sin bin after a seemingly harsh decision to remove him from the field of play.
The losses condemn both the Sharks and Dragons to a season of lament and one without finals action. Given their rosters, their fans are entitled to ask some serious questions.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
So from Kogarah to Wollongong isn't big enough for BOTH the Dragons and the Sharks to coexist but Bondi Junction and Manly's insular peninsula are more than enough room for two clubs with the smallest membership and supporter base, is that it? And before anyone mentions the Rabbitohs they have extended their reach from Redfern to Homebush and then west to Perth, north east to Cairns and due north to Gosford. ;-)
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Ideally, the merger should have been the Steelers and the Sharks. When the takeover went through you had Cronulla-Sutherland between St George and Illawarra. Too late now.
farkurnell
Guest
Doug the only failure I see is your parents- who should of left you at an orphanage somewhere near Antarctica.
farkurnell
Guest
I reckon the Western Panthers has a nice ring to it.You've only got to add orange stripes to the panther mascot .What do you get when you cross a tiger and a panther... a big cat
Doug Graves
Guest
Forget about merging 2 clubs that hate each other. The only way forward is to relocate the Sharks to Adelaide. The Cronulla experiment has failed and the league needs safeguard it's own future by relocating failed clubs like Cronulla.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
yes merge Cronulla and the Dragons.. the area is not big enough for both
At work
Roar Rookie
Complete click bait headline that has nothing to do with the article.
Soda
Roar Rookie
First year coaching after head coach is banned for life. I don't think he's done too bad under the circumstances. Sharks have been in every game and just lost marginally. I don't support the sharks so I probably have lower expectations on them but I think they have done alright. Sooner they move flanno in and Johnston out the better.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Bit of a click bait headline. As far as mergers go this one probably makes more sense than most.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Mary Mary quite contrary. How does your garden grow? With silver bells & cockle shells. And 3 more losses in a row!
souvalis
Roar Rookie
They knew Johnson was solely a runner when they bought him Albo..he seemed the perfect game breaking substitute for Valentine.Trouble is, other than last week ,he rarely runs..so, the club has a half who can’t organize, won’t run, is kicking horrendously in general play and cost the club three games with lousy goal kicking...a million dollar man who gets the ball on the last play of the game last night, this is his chance, take the shot Shaun...too hard, passes the buck onto Townsend...miserable...you could rip into other big name players on the roster, Fifita,Woods, Prior, Dugan, Moylan, the on field non rallying of Gallen..none of them leaving the field with nothing in the tank..systems need immediate auditing..
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yeah Birdy ! Still not sure what was going on earlier in the season ? Maybe a bunch of distractions off the field ? Anyway they still have plenty to do to be a serious chance, but it is a huge improvement on 2 months ago. Your boys have a tough one on their hands in Canberra , but one good omen I believe Benji has never lost in Canberra ! Really looking forward to all of todays matches. Good luck !
Renegade
Roar Guru
Can’t see how Morris gets a pass and I’m a sharks fan.... the sharks squad is infinitely better than the dragons squad. If Mary gets a fail which I’m not disputing, then Morris does too.
Soda
Roar Rookie
Bit of a sensationalist headline. Dragons and sharks aren't playing great. With challenging circumstances at the start of the year for both. In my opinion, Sharks have over achieved already this season despite this slump they are going through. the dragons, however, have only underachieved and embarrassed. I think the coaches of both teams should get some credit for where they are. Morris gets a pass from me where as Mary gets a big fat fail. You would have to think the dragons board would be considering a payout for Mary.
Birdy
Roar Rookie
Penrith would be putting a massive smile on your face now Albo. If only the season started 8 weeks sgo,. Crossing my fingers for the tigers today.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I read somewhere that Mary planned to win 6 from 8 or something of the final games to make the finals. They can only lose one more game now. I can't remember a time when a coach stated something like that and it actually happened, they usually come out of the blue. Panther Maloney is displaying his ability to be up to his neck in the try creating action. Just about every other halves player in the comp would give anything to have this trait. He has an element of Cliff Lyons about him in that you always feel he can put something on against any opposition.
Albo
Roar Rookie
The problem for both the Dragons & Sharks that was so apparent in both games last night, was the lack of on-field game management and leadership. The comparisons were so obvious in both matches. The Warriors with arguably a lesser squad of talent than the Sharks had on the field, still had a great on-field general in Blake Green who ran the show in full control and got his team home. Same in the next match where the NSW SOO halves, Maloney & Cleary , dominated the match from the outset and guided their team of" lesser lights" to an emphatic win. The Dragons have been missing this game management and leadership for some time. For me, the quality of on-field leadership is what makes the difference in the NRL , its what makes the Storm & Roosters so consistently dominant. Having a Cameron Smith or Cooper Cronk out there on the park providing the right directions each week makes all the difference to consistent performances. Merging of the Sharks & Dragons would achieve no better results as at this stage, they will still be missing this vital ingredient.
David Gallop winner!
Roar Rookie
Am I reading the correct article? This seems like a regurgitation of play only? Better title would be: Two Boof Heads derail Two Rudderless Clubs. You could then focus on Fifita and De Belin.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I mentioned after the dogs game that the sharks weren’t there mentally and that’s down to the coach.... based on the defensive effort yesterday, you could see the attitude was there but it’s just mentally they are off.... just dumb plays, lack of composure and rush of blood decisions. It’s down to the coach, you look at the roster - if they miss the finals which is almost certain now... John Morris should be in trouble, they need a senior coach for this squad.
Omnitrader
Roar Rookie
this article doesn’t mention anything about merging??