The Warriors had to overcome a “rubbish” Bunker decision and a bizarre sideline drama to secure what Phil Gould described as “one of their greatest wins” ever.
The Auckland-based side was on the ropes early in the Shire as the Sharks shot out to a 20-0 lead in quick time, shaking off the wind and rain that had battered the southern Sydney stadium.
Things got worse on the stroke of half time when Marata Niukore was sin-binned in bizarre circumstances.
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Referee Ben Cummins blew his whistle to stop play, and then brought the teams back up the field about 40 metres where the Bunker had found a supposed hip-drop tackle several plays earlier.
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Players and commentators could not believe what was happening as Cummins marched Niukore to the bin.
Brad Fittler explained on Nine why the tackle on Siosifa Talakai was not a hip-drop.
“It looked like Talakai pulled through the tackle. Normally those hip-drops are nice and tight to the player, a hip-drop is where you drop straight down,” Fittler said.
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“I don’t think that was one of them.”
Phil Gould had to bite his tongue, but offered a version of what he was thinking.
“It’s not. I think we know the difference between what’s on purpose and what’s accidental,” Gould said.
“It’s not even in the same postcode.
“They grafted really hard and now they’re down to 12 men because someone in the Bunker decided he wanted to get involved.”
Overcoming that strange incident, the Warriors kicked into gear in the second half to score three tries in 14 minutes.
When Josh Curran bashed his way over the line in the 68th minute and Shaun Johnson duly converted, the scoreboard was levelled at 30-30.
But the chaos was only about to begin.
Sharks skipper sin binned
With six minutes remaining on the clock Cronulla captain Dale Finucane was sin-binned, leaving the hosts with 12 men.
The Warriors kicked for touch on that penalty but the ball was batted back in play by Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo.
On replay, however, it was evident Mulitalo’s foot had touched the sideline before he jumped and tapped the ball, meaning it should have been a Warriors tap.
Luckily it didn’t matter, though, as In the final minute the Warriors were awarded another penalty and this time Johnson stepped up and knocked it over to take a two-point lead.
With only seconds on the clock, the Sharks kicked off short and earned a penalty of their own.
It meant the game was in the hands of reigning Dally M Medal winner Nicho Hynes, who had a penalty kick from roughly 40 metres out and near the sideline.
Missed Hynes kick ends game
Everyone at Shark Park held their breath as Hynes kicked the ball, only for it to fall short and wide, handing the Warriors a famous victory.
“This is one of their greatest wins I’ve seen in their history,” Gould proclaimed.
“This was built on guts, they never gave up.”
The Warriors take on the Knights in Newcastle next week, while the Sharks have the bye.
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