The Warriors have missed a penalty goal on the buzzer which would’ve forced golden point in a thrilling 10-8 loss to the Sharks.
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A brutal yet entertaining contest between two tough, hard teams, the game was level at 8-8 inside the final two minutes until Sharks half Braydon Trindall delivered a magic moment.
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Trindall slotted a two-point field goal to give Cronulla the lead, with the Sharks winning the ball a few plays earlier when Will Kennedy pulled off a miraculous play.
Kennedy charged down a Warriors field goal attempt and then had the presence of mind to dive on the loose ball all in the one motion.
“That might be the play of their season,” Michael Ennis said with Jake Duke calling it a “Superman” play.
Moments later, the Sharks worked into Warriors territory then Trindall drilled the match winning goal.
The Warriors had a chance to level the scores when they received a penalty with 40 seconds on the clock.
Adam Pompey lined up from 30 metres out and 15 metres in from touch but pulled the attempt wide right.
Confusion over BIZARRE shot clock pen | 00:44
“Those two plays from Kennedy and Trindall were out of this world,” Cronk said.
“This might be the moment that jumpstarts their season and give them confidence for a finals run.”
The lowest-scoring match of the NRL season to date, 14 of the game’s 18 total points were scored between the 17th and 30th minute when the two teams exchanged their only tries.
Pompey levelled the scores at eight in the 62nd minute with a penalty goal before Trindall broke the deadlock with 90 seconds on the clock to give Cronulla their eighth win of the season.
The first points came in controversial fashion when the Warriors conceded a shot clock penalty.
Referee Gerard Sutton was heard yelling out “five seconds” as a warning to Chanel Harris-Tavita, who was preparing to take a drop out, but the buzzer rung around the ground just two seconds later before Harris-Tavita could kick it.
Sutton then ruled penalty on hearing the buzzer before responding to the complaints from Warriors players who went by Sutton’s five second warning.
“You said five seconds,” Wayde Egan said.
“That’s not my problem. If the buzzer goes and you haven’t kicked it, it’s a penalty,” Sutton responded.
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A bitter winter’s night in Auckland produced one of the fiercest games of the year.
In a season where tackling has proven optional, the Sharks and the Warriors renewed hostilities in a tit-for-tat clash where defensive combat stole the show.
With nine minutes remaining, both teams knew the war they were with each of the combatants huddling together for one final push during an injury timeout.
Even without the likes of firebrands Addin Fonua-Blake, Mitch Barnett and James Fisher-Harris at their disposal, both teams managed to hold their gloves up with points coming at a premium in the lowest-scoring game of the season to date.
With six players placed on report throughout, there was no better example of the warfare on show then late in the first half when Sharks front-rower Jesse Colquhoun forced a Warriors error and concussed himself in the process.
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Fool me twice…
They weren’t to know at the time, but two crucial shot clock errors will leave the Warriors left to rue what may have been.
The first came during a regulation dropout when the shot clock buzzer beat them to the punch.
It allowed the Sharks to take a two-point penalty goal lead, the difference in the scoreline by game’s end.
Almost unbelievably, five minutes later the Warriors were pained by the buzzer again upon failing to pack a scrum in time.
Three minutes later, Sharks centre Jesse Ramien crossed for the first try.
It was a thrilling game.Source: FOX SPORTS
Snubbed Blue continues to produce
To his credit, Jackson Ford has put all the outside noise from missing out on State of Origin selection behind him.
But yet again, it is hard to see what else the Warriors workhorse could do to earn a Blues call-up after another tireless effort in the middle.
Ford ran for 102 metres and got through 54 tackles in the kind of performance we have come to expect from him at this point.
“He would be a hell of a treat to have in your side,” former Roosters front rower Jared Waerea-Hargreaves said on Fox League.
“He’s so reliable, he’s so consistent and a guy like that holds down the middle… you know what you’re going to get from him every week.”
Kennedy heroics set up Trindall WINNER | 01:33
JUDICIARY WATCH
Ronaldo Mulitalo was placed on report early in the game for an unseen infringement.
He wasn’t the only Shark, with Cameron McInnes also placed on report for a high tackle at the 20 minute mark. He plead guilty to a high tackle in round 10 – his only charge in the past 12 months.
Furthermore, Jayden Berrell was placed on report for a high tackle on Te Mare Martin – the ensuing penalty allowed the Warriors to equal the scores at 8-All. No previous charges.
Niwhai Puru was also placed on report for a hip drop style tackle in the 76th minute. No previous charges.
As for the Warriors, Jackson Ford was placed on report for a high tackle just before the hour mark. Three unrelated charges in the past 12 months.
Eddie Ieremia-Toeava was placed on report for a high tackle on Toby Rudolph late in the game. No previous charges.
STAT ATTACK (via Fox Lab)
Expected Set Points: Sharks 23.4, Warriors 19.6
– A big defensive effort from both teams, especially the Warriors who repelled 38 tackles in their 20 (Sharks defended just 17).
– Lowest scoring game this season, was 22 points twice
– Sharks’ lowest scoring win since 2018 (10-9 v Titans). Only the sixth time the Warriors have conceded 10 points or fewer and lost – first since 2021 (Lost 10-6 v Knights).
– Second win for the Sharks over the Warriors this season – just their sixth win away from Cronulla in their last 15 games. Only Warriors fourth loss in total – four straight wins for Cronulla.
– Sharks continue good results in Origin affected rounds – have now won seven of nine since 2021, the Warriors poor form also continues. They have lost six of eight over the same period.
– Just four set restarts in the game (Warriors 3, Sharks 1) but there were 12 full penalties (6-All).
– Braydon Trindall kicked the fourth field goal of his career to grab the win for the Sharks – his first two pointer. Also forced four goal line drop outs in a strong kicking performance.
Fox Lab POTM – A strong performance from Will Kennedy at the back for the Sharks. He ran for over 150 metres, made a linebreak and his miracle charge down catch played a massive role in winning the match for his side.
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