But it was the defences that dictated the contest in a low-scoring affair.
Only two tries were scored in the 10-8 Sharks win, which was filled with big collisions and battles through the middle of the park.
The Warriors’ cause was not helped by their completion rate hovering around 70% through the opening 60 minutes, though they brought it back up to 77% when the game was in the balance, while the Sharks, who had more than 50% of the ball, completed at 84%.
But it took a couple of special plays in the final few minutes for the Sharks to finally see the Warriors off in front of a crowd of 24,938. Fullback Will Kennedy charged down a Warriors field goal attempt and somehow hung on to the ball. A few plays later, five-eighth Braydon Trindall slotted a two-point field goal from about 45m out to heap the pressure on the hosts with under two minutes remaining.
However, the Sharks gave the Warriors one last chance equaliser, with winger Sione Katoa blatantly taking an opponent out well inside Sharks territory.
The ensuing shot at goal would either have ended the game or forced extra time. However, Adam Pompey’s strike sailed to the right of the uprights and the Sharks held on for a double over the Warriors this season.
“That’s my type of footy,” Sharks captain Cameron McInnes told Sky Sport.
“Not a lot of room, two physical sides getting stuck into each other. Both teams held the ball well, got a few calls off the refs there put everybody in good field position. We held on longer there, and what can we say about Tricky Trindall? That’s unbelievable.”
Missing several first-choice players, the Warriors competed from start to finish. Led by another mammoth 80-minute outing from prop Jackson Ford – who took double-digit carries and made more than 50 tackles – and some smart kicking for territory by the halves, the hosts looked to grind away at the visitors to make something happen.
The Warriors were also able to get Makaia Tafua on for his debut with 20 minutes to go, the young hooker providing some punch against some tired bodies late.
It was a game both sides were willing to play in what became a question of which team could outlast the other.
The Warriors found themselves under pressure early in the contest but were let off by some questionable play from the Sharks, with a third-tackle grubber from Trindall that no one in his team saw coming, seeing the Warriors survive a good early attack.
It was a confusing moment that led to the opening points of the game. After conceding a goal-line drop out, Warriors five-eighths Chanel Harris-Tavita was penalised for not beating the shot clock which led to a Sharks penalty goal. Harris-Tavita was given a five-second warning by the referee, with the buzzer sounding a couple of seconds later, leading to some puzzled Warriors players.
When centre Jesse Ramien beat some soft Warriors defence out wide, the ensuing conversion making it 8-0, it seemed the Sharks were starting to get their teeth into the hosts.
But the Warriors came charging right back at them. A great show of footwork and strength from halfback Te Maire Martin saw them close the gap to two points at halftime, before a second-half penalty drew the Warriors level.
In the end, two big plays decided the fixture, handing the Warriors their second loss in a row.
NZ Warriors 8 (Te Maire Martin try; Adam Pompey con, pen)
Cronulla Sharks 10 (Jesse Ramien try; Braydon Trindall pen, con, two-point field goal)
HT: 6-8
Overlooked again by New South Wales ahead of State of Origin game two, in-form Warriors prop Jackson Ford says he has had little communication from the Blues’ management.
Ford has had a strong year in the middle for the Warriors, emerging as a reliable 80-minute workhorse in the middle and sitting second on the Dally M player of the year standings when voting went behind closed doors two weeks ago.
But the 28-year-old was again a notable exclusion when Laurie Daley’s squad was announced for next week’s second State of Origin clash, to be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Blues, who go to Melbourne with a 1-0 lead after a second-half comeback in game one, have made several changes, including prop Payne Hass and half Mitchell Moses being called in after missing game one with injuries.
Speaking to the media this week, Ford said “there hasn’t been much chat” between himself and the New South Wales team.
“First of all, I was stoked to see them get the win. I’ve just got to keep playing football here. It hurts a little bit, but whatever Laurie picks, you know, he’s coach at the end of the day, so I back the Blues to get it done again in game two.”
After his exclusion from the game one squad, Daley noted Ford had been overlooked because he wanted a forward who could cover the middle and the edge.
While deployed primarily in the middle for the Warriors over the past two seasons, Ford is listed as an edge forward and has spent plenty of time there through his four years with the St George Illawarra Dragons and his first two years with the Warriors.
“There was something come out about that, but, as I said, he [Daley] hasn’t reached out to me,” Ford said.
“I think maybe I’ve probably looked at the media a bit too much and felt like, you know, I’ve just got to take it back and look at sort of where I’ve come. I’m stoked to be in the midst of the Origin selections. That’s a big achievement for me. [I’ve] just got to keep pushing forward and playing some good footy, hopefully.”
The Blues’ loss is the Warriors’ gain this week, with Ford assuming the role of the elder statesman in the front row with senior forwards James Fisher-Harris (calf injury) and Mitch Barnett (Origin duties) both unavailable for selection for Saturday night’s match against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in Auckland.
That sees Tanner Stowers-Smith start at prop alongside Ford, young props Eddie Ieremia-Toeava (seven games) and Jason Salalilo (debut) in line to make an impact from the bench.
With seven first-choice players unavailable across the squad, there are plenty of new faces in the initial squad this week, which also included hooker Makaia Tafua, second rower Kayliss Fatialofa and utility Jye Linnane who will all be on debut for the Warriors.
“Could be a few debuts this week, but I feel like some of the young boys have really stepped up this year anyway, so whoever’s getting the go, we’re going good, so it’s good depth,” Ford said.
The Sharks are one of three teams to have beaten the Warriors this year, claiming a 36-22 win in Sydney in round five back in April.
“We’ve spoken about that. We’ve lost one now, so we don’t lose to them twice. We owe them one so I feel like we’re going to come out with lots of energy and it’s a big occasion. We’ve had a week off, so we’re ready to go.”
NZ Warriors’ unavailabilities for round 15
Mitch Barnett (NSW Origin duties)
Kurt Capewell (Queensland Origin duties)
James Fisher-Harris (calf) – return date TBC
Sam Healey (thumb) – round 17
Leka Halasima (hamstring) – TBC
Tanah Boyd (ACL) – out for the season
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (knee) – out for the season
Haizyn Mellars (hamstring) – round 17