Sharks suffer 40-10 defeat in the Shire as Warriors surge into top two
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7.34pm Warriors embarrass Cronulla with 30-point shellacking
7.20pm Sharks suffer massive loss to Warriors
7.06pm Harris-Tavita goes himself to add to Warriors tally
6.58pm Warriors take 20-point lead
6.53pm Warriors charge to 14-point lead after Vaimauga scores
6.36pm Warriors strike first in second half as Fisher-Harris scores
6.19pm Warriors ahead by two at half-time
6.11pm Iro adds to Cronulla tally
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Pinned post from 7.34pm
Warriors embarrass Cronulla with 30-point shellacking
By Christian Nicolussi
WARRIORS 40, SHARKS 10
Maybe this really could be the year of the New Zealand Warriors.
Coach Andrew Webster's men completely outplayed Cronulla on Saturday night to triumph 40-10.
The Sharks were meant to be fresh off the bye and bounce back at home after a humiliating loss to the Sydney Roosters, but they were out-enthused all night by a side that made it win No.10 for the season.
Luke Metcalf, a former Cronulla half, was his usual brilliant self, setting up the Warriors' first try, and producing some excellent tackles. Who will seriously deny Metcalf in the Dally M race should he stay fit?
James Fisher-Harris and Jackson Ford ran the ball hard, Adam Pompey is a seriously big dude, Kurt Capewell's no-fuss attitude is exactly what his old club Brisbane need right now, Erin Clark is a contender for buy of the year (what were the Titans and Des Hasler thinking?), while late call-up Sam Healy, son of Sharks legend Mitch Healy, was also a handful out of dummy-half.
Club legend Shaun Johnson said on Fox League after full-time: 'That was as complete a performance as I've seen from a Warriors side. There have been some good wins in the club's history dating right back, but there's something about this side that does hit different. It really does.'
The Warriors have the bye next week before hosting the Panthers, who are likely to rest their Origin stars, followed by the Broncos, Wests Tigers, Newcastle and Gold Coast Titans.
They have never won the premiership, but do not write them off this year. The rise and rise of the Warriors, along with Canberra and Canterbury, has breathed a new life into rugby league.
A team that desperately needs some life breathed into their campaign is Cronulla.
Some of the scenes late in their game at Shark Park were bad. A bit like Parramatta a few years ago under then coach Brad Arthur, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has stuck solid with the core group of players who suddenly look a little stale.
It is hard to put the finger on what they need. They did beat the Storm last month, but the Roosters loss that followed was disappointing, while the Warriors display was even worse.
They did not help themselves in the first half with their discipline. The penalties also came deep inside the Warriors' half, which allowed the visitors to keep marching down field when they should have been scrapping for every metre.
Injuries have not been kind with KL Iro suffering a pec injury, but not before helping himself to a first-half four-pointer, the ninth consecutive game he has got across the line this year.
One thing they could do is encourage Nicho Hynes to start running the ball more. He has barely tucked the ball under the arm and taken a carry this year, and the one time he did, just before half-time, he burst down field and put the Sharks on the attack.
They probably should have led at the break, only for Braden Hamlin-Uele to grab a Braydon Trindall grubber, then have the ball knocked out of his hands in a contest with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
They host St George Illawarra next Thursday.
7.20pm
Sharks suffer massive loss to Warriors
That's full-time at Shark Park, where the Warriors have secured their 10th win of the season.
It was a commanding victory for the visitors in the Shire, with the Sharks suffering their second massive loss in a matter of games.
Dangerous signs for Cronulla – they have the team, but they struggle to find points, and they can't stop them either.
Full-time: Warriors 40, Sharks 10
7.06pm
Harris-Tavita goes himself to add to Warriors tally
The Warriors are embarrassing Cronulla now, with Chanel Harris-Tavita breaking through to score.
The Cronulla defenders don't even bother chasing anymore. They look defeated.
Still plenty of minutes left in this match, but at this rate, the Sharks are in danger of having 50 put on them.
6.56pm
Nico's view: Sharks look stale
6.53pm
Warriors charge to 14-point lead after Vaimauga scores
The Warriors have well and truly taken control of this match, with Demitric Vaimauga crossing under the posts.
It was a late offload from Erin Clark that kept the play alive, before Luke Metcalf slipped through the Sharks defensive line before passing out to Vaimauga to score.
This is impressive from the Warriors, they're finding points from nothing.
6.46pm
Chance goes by for Sharks as Iro loses the ball
Cronulla should have another try on the board, but KL Iro loses the ball as he's crossing the line after contact from Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
That's a big opportunity gone for the Sharks, who were lucky to get the ball back so close to the New Zealand line with a scrum feed.
Warriors 18, Sharks 10 with 29 minutes to go
6.36pm
Warriors strike first in second half as Fisher-Harris scores
James Fisher-Harris come on down.
The Warriors skipper goes through untouched after slipping between Cameron McInnes and Briton Nikora to score.
The Warriors caught the Sharks sleeping there – Cronulla thought Fisher-Harris was the decoy runner.
Warriors 18, Sharks 10 with 37 minutes to go
6.34pm
Second half under way
We're into the final 40 minutes at Shark Park, with Blayke Brailey taking the kick-off for Cronulla.
Jackson Ford who takes the first carry for the Warriors.
Warriors 12, Sharks 10 with 40 minutes to go
6.29pm
The stats after 40 minutes
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