Rugby League: New Zealand Warriors’ NRL playoff hopes ended after loss to Cronulla Sharks

Sharks 22
Warriors 14

It’s all over for the Warriors.

Their NRL playoff hopes were shattered by the Sharks at Kogarah, with Kiwi Shaun Johnson one of the stars in Cronulla’s 22-14 win.

The Warriors’ hopes plummeted in the final 10 minutes when their 14-12 lead disappeared.

Sharks blocking Toby Rudolf fought his way through four tacklers to score a try in the 74th minute that sank the Warriors. It was the first NRL attempt for Rudolf, a player the Warriors believed was heading their way in 2021.

And Auckland forward Ronaldo Mulitalo put the matter out of the question minutes later, flying into the corner in an attempt to seal the game that ensured the Sharks would play the final.

The Warriors will end the season with games against the Raiders and Sea Eagles, but are now out of the hunt despite a much admired end to a strange season in which they had to camp in Australia.

Acting coach Todd Payten has turned things around, but the trade wasn’t good enough.
It was a sometimes brutal game, personified by the way the Sharks’ standout forward Siosifa Talakai crushed Peta Hiku’s tackle attempt late in the game.

The tension was there, the quality was often not. But it was something exciting.

Sharks winger Sione Katoa, under pressure from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, blew an attempt opportunity in the 72nd minute on a Johnson kick as the Warriors moved into position for victory.

Another great pass from Hiku, a reverse effort without looking on a tackle from Josh Dugan, had set Adam Pompey ready for a try early in the second half.

Chanel Harris-Tavita’s conversion on the sideline leveled the scores, and when she shot a long, low penalty in the 62nd minute, the Warriors led for the first time.

Things took another bad turn for the Sharks when they were penalized on possession by referee Matt Cecchin, but they held on when the Warriors threw themselves on the line.

The magic was nowhere to be seen for Hiku when he threw the ball at the fifth tackle, the possibility of the Warriors landing the killing blow was lost.

Johnson dominated the first half with grubber kicks setting up attempts for the Sharks’ wings Katoa and Mulitalo.

Johnson had been away for three weeks, the new father was also dealing with an injury. Sharks coach John Morris handed Johnson the captaincy for the first time, with Wade Graham and Chad Townsend suspended, and his strong first half also included an inning to save Harris-Tavita.

Cronulla got a lot of help from the Warriors, who conceded a series of penalties early in the tackle count and had a pretty sloppy first half.

When Johnson hit a simple penalty goal for a 12-0 lead in the 35th minute, it looked like the Warriors would have to climb a small mountain in the second period.

But unlike the Eels in the previous round, they found a way to get back into the game just before the halftime horn.

Warriors captain Tuivasa-Sheck, who has found a fantastic form of attack in recent weeks, set up a Jack Murchie try with a signature stride before making a pass to the second rower.

At 12-6 it was definitely up for grabs, but the Sharks finished stronger.

Sharks 22 (Ronaldo Mulitalo 2, All Sione, Toby Rudolf tries; Shaun Johnson 3 goals)
Warriors 14 (Jack Murchie, Adam Pompey tries; Chanel Harris-Tavita 3 goals)
Halftime: 12-6