A fourth-straight defeat has dealt a blow to the NZ Warriors in their quest for an NRLW playoff appearance.
Despite matching their opponents with seven tries apiece and leading by 10 points soon after halftime, the home side fell 40-32 to Cronulla Sharks at Go Media Stadium – the second consecutive week they have lost to a bottom-placed team on the table.
A slow start saw them behind 10-0 early, before centre Stacey Waaka crashed over to open their scoring. Fellow centre Mele Hufanga matched that effort soon after, before wing Payton Takimoana gave the Warriors their first lead of the contest.
Sharks hooker Quincy Dodd scored her second try to grab the momentum back, but Takimoana brought up her own double and wing Lavinia Tauhalaliku also crossed on halftime, as the hosts stormed to a 20-16 advantage at the interval.
They seemed to have the game in hand when halfback Patricia Maliepo was next to score, but over the next half hour, the Sharks scored four tries – all of them converted – to steamroll their stunned opponents.
Halfback Chantay Kiria-Ratu’s boot proved the difference on the scoreboard, as she converted five of her team’s seven tries.
Georgia Hannaway added the extra points to Kiria-Ratu’s try in the 55th minute, while Maliepo twice hit the uprights, but could not bisect them and was eventually replaced by hooker Jay Huriwai.
The Warriors have now won four and lost six games this season, still tied for Newcastle Knights for the last playoff spot, with the Knights yet to play this weekend.
Next week, the wāhine travel to face champions Brisbane Broncos in their last game of the regular season.
See how the match unfolded below:
Warriors wāhine: 1. Anastasia Sekene, 2. Lavinia Tauhalaliku, 3. Mele Hufanga, 4. Stacey Waaka, 5. Tysha Ikenasio, 6. Gayle Broughton, 7. Patricia Maliepo, 8. Annetta Nuuausala, 9. Jasmin Huriwai, 10. Matekino Gray, 11. Maarire Puketapu, 12. Shakira Baker, 13. Kaiyah Atai
Interchange 14. Capri Paekau, 15. Harata Butler, 16. Ashlee Matapo, 17. Metanoia Fetalaiga.