Golden boot shines in the Warriors last minute win over Sharks

Shaun Johnson scored a freakish solo try on the last play of the game to give his side a comeback 20-16 win over the Sharks in front of 13,988 fans at Remondis Stadium.

The game started off in lull with errors and penalties riddling most of the first half. The Warriors in particular had trouble with their discipline and gave away far too many cheap penalties in the opening stanza.

Yet despite this the away team was able to grab the first try of the match when Johnathon Wright crossed in the corner in the 16th minute. A set play saw Shaun Johnson go out the back to Tuimoala Lolohea, who then threw a pin point cut out pass to his winger who went over untouched.

It only took the Sharks seven minutes to respond though when Luke Lewis was the beneficiary of a freakish deflection from a Michael Ennis grubber and was able to bag a four pointer under the sticks.

The Sharks than began to get on top of the Warriors in general play but were unable to convert their superiority. This came back to haunt them when Chad Townsend threw a brilliant long ball to Manu Vatuvei in the 30th minute who than stampeded Valentine Holmes to score out wide. Shaun Johnson again missed the conversion as the Sharks kicked a late penalty goal to make it 8-8 at the break.

McFadden's' key message to his side at half time would have been to maintain your discipline, so he would have punched a hole in the wall when the Warriors gave away two penalties in the first three minutes of the second half. The Sharks were able to secure a penalty goal on the second infringement to grab the lead.

Neither team was then able to stamp their authority on the match, with the Warriors looking tired in defence but the Sharks were unable to capitalise, as their attack seemed lost at stages. Jack Bird in particular had an average night with the boot, coming up with a few horrible grubbers that released the pressure on a struggling Warriors defence.

A Johnson penalty goal in the 60th minute to square it up once more was the only scoring play until the final seven minutes, and what a last segment it was.

Firstly Johnson sparked into life by deciding to run it on the last and racing 30 metres before putting in a perfect cross field kick for Solomone Kata, who was able to ground the ball in the corner.

After the kick off the Warriors only had to hold on for five minutes, but couldn't and caved under the pressure. Andrew Fifita scored probably the greatest solo try by a prop in the history of rugby league in the 75th minute, he stepped six Warriors would be tacklers on the way to the line. Holmes then slotted the extras and the Sharks were up 16-14 with three minutes to go.

They looked like they were going to hold on for the win until Ryan Hoffman charged down a kick and ran 70 metres to give his side one last chance. Enter Shaun Johnson. The little magician received the ball on the right hand side of the field before dancing cross field whilst mesmerising Sharks defenders. He stepped past five defenders on his right foot before going off his left for the last two to score one of the most memorable match winning tries of all time. He than kicked the goal after the siren for good measure to give the visitors a 20-16 win.

Warriors centre Konrad Hurrell may be in big trouble at the judiciary though after he lifted the knee when running the ball. He badly broke Anthony Tupou's jaw in the incident and will most likely be rubbed out for a few weeks.

Next week the Warriors remain in Sydney to face the Parramatta Eels, while the Sharks will need to overcome the heartbreak when they head to Robina for a clash with the Titans - both games scheduled for next Saturday.

Match Details

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 16 Warriors 20
Venue: Remondis Stadium
Crowd: 13988
Halftime Score: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8 Warriors 10

CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (16)
Tries: Luke Lewis, Andrew Fifita
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Valentine Holmes (2/2)

WARRIORS (20)
Tries: Jonathan Wright, Shaun Johnson, Manu Vatuvei, Solomone Kata
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (1/4)
Penalty Goals: Shaun Johnson (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Tuimoala Lolohea
2 points - Shaun Johnson
1 point - Andrew Fifita

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to our live coverage of the Sharks v Warriors. A late change for the Sharkies with Michael Gordon a late scratching, Mitch Brown comes onto the wing in jersey 21. Albert Vete gains the last bench spot for the Warriors in jersey 18.

1: We are underway in the Shire!

1: The Sharks successfully complete their first set and get a good kick away through Ennis

2: Ben Barba takes a monstering Johnson bomb in his first game as Sharks fullback

2: UNFORCED ERROR WARRIORS
Konrad Hurrell makes an unforced error.
The big centre puts it down on the attack with minimal pressure

4: Sharks to have a full set in the Warriors half after a silly penalty

5: UNFORCED ERROR WARRIORS
Jonathan Wright makes an unforced error.
The winger gives the Sharks six again after knocking down a pass

6: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Andrew Fifita makes an unforced error.
Looked for the offload when it wasn't needed and loses the ball. Warriors off the hook

8: The Warriors have a strong set of six but Johnsons' bomb too deep at the end, Barba takes it comfortably

9: Warriors begging to look lively in attack! Johnson running the circus

10: Sharks on the other hand look a bit flat in attack. One out hit ups flavour of the night

10: Robson puts it into touch at the end of the Sharks set and the Warriors have a 10m scrum

12: Fifita gives away a silly penalty in the ruck and the Warriors head on the attack

12: Lillyman nearly barges over!

13: Johnson ends the set with a poor grubber that didn't get behind Jack Bird

14: Jason Bukuya running like a freight train!

15: Poor kick from Robson, Hurrell takes it in in goal with no pressure and the Warriors have seven tackles

16: Johnson puts Bodene Thompson through a big hole, unable to find the try line

16: TRY WARRIORS
Scored by Jonathan Wright. Kick to come.
The winger grabs the first try of the match. Good set play with Johnson going out the back to Lolohea, who throws are pin point cut out pass to Wright who dives over in the corner

17: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson unsuccessful.
The halfback misses the kick from the sideline. 4-0 Warriors

20: Barba with a lively kick return and earns his side a penalty. Fullback is his possession, keep him there Flanagan you slow learner!

20: Jack Bird with a brilliant grubber to end the Sharks set and earns his side their first dropout of the night

22: Fifita takes his 10th hit up in 20 minutes of footy, great work rate from the big fella

23: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Luke Lewis. Kick to come.
Freak try!! Luke Lewis scores untouched under the sticks after an Ennis grubber hits a Warriors defender and ends up in the locks hands. 4-4 with kick to come

23: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Valentine Holmes successful.
The winger knocks it over from infront and the Sharks are up 6-4

25: The Sharks complete their set after points and should be gaining confidence. Working into the game well

25: Big Manu gives away a penalty for barging Gerard Beale out of the way as he tries to catch a bomb. Manuuuu get your head together

27: Sharks get another penalty and are now entrenched in the Warriors 20 metres

29: Possible try for Sharks! Mitch Brown ends up with a Robson bomb over the line but may have been held up

29: Took an age to get the ball down, will be outrage from Warriors if its a green light!

29: Common sense prevails and the try is denied

29: Warriors raiding the Sharks line!

29: They get six again for Sharks being to slow to leave the ruck

30: TRY WARRIORS
Scored by Manu Vatuvei. Kick to come.
Guess who!? MANU!! The big winger barges over Holmes to touch down in the corner. Great ball from Chad Townsend set up the pass

32: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson unsuccessful.
The current golden boot holder misses by a long way and the Warriors stay with the two point advantage

34: Jack Bird and Ben Barba nearly combine for try of the season! But Lolohea manages to run down Barba just 5 metres short of the line. Coast to coast stuff!

35: Time stops with big Manu struggling with what looks like to be a pectoral injury

35: The big man looks to be right now, games back on

35: The Sharks look dynamite with having both Holmes and Barba bring the ball back from kicks

35: Jack Bird shows his immaturity by reefing the vll dead on the third tackle when the Sharks were in good position

38: Both teams starring to loose a bit of structure in attack, looking for the break

38: The Warriors give away another penalty and the Sharks will get one last chance!

39: The Warriors give away their eighth penalty of the game. Sharks opt to take the two in the shadows of the break

40: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Valentine Holmes successful.
The Sharks second string kicker has no problem and it's 8-8 at the break

40: Cronulla get us back underway!

40: Ennis gives away a penalty on the first tackle of the half. Not a textbook start

42: Possible try for Bodene Thompson. Video ref will look to see if a Warrior knocks on a Shaun Johnson bomb in the build up

42: Hurrell knocked on, no try.

42: Mannering strips the ball and gives away a penalty

43: Warriors give away another penalty, two in the first three minutes. McFadden will be spewing

44: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Penalty goal attempt by Valentine Holmes successful.
Holmes knocks over the resulting penalty goal from in front 36 metres out

46: Jack Bird puts in another poor grubber. His kicking licence is getting close to being revoked!

46: Hurrellicane is causing some damage! Smashes through four defenders and goes 30 metres

47: He has lifted his knee on his run and has ruined Anthony Topou's face! Goes on report nd will be in some trouble

49: Vete rattles Graham with a solid hit

50: The Sharks pick up Lolohea and drive him back into the in goal

51: Sharks looking likely, might strike here

51: No dice. Mitch Brown almost went over in the corner but was forced into touch

53: Breaking: Topou has a badly broken jaw after the knee to the face from Hurrell

54: Sharks getting on top in the arm wrestle, Warriors need to move up in defence. They look tired already

54: Warriors get a much needed penalty

54: Ennis with a brilliant one on one strip on Nathan Friend!

56: Robson bangs it into touch at the end of the set and Sharks back in control

56: Breaking: Big Mnau has suffered a sternum injury and won't be back

58: Sharks defend their line comfortably. Warriors need to find a spark in attack

59: Lolohea takes a towering Robson bomb at the back. The youngster has been grey all night

59: UNFORCED ERROR CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Mitch Brown makes an unforced error.
The winger puts down a HUGE Johnson bomb on his own line

61: Ennis gives away a penalty for pulling the Warriors leg in the tackle. Warriors opt to take the two in front of the sticks

62: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL WARRIORS
Penalty goal attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
10-10. We are in for a thrilling finish in the Shire!

63: Sauiluma performs a crusher tackle on Bodene Thompson and the back rower stays down

64: Chad Townsend dances around a couple of Sharks with ease

64: The Warriors get six again after Graham plays at a Johnson grubber and it goes into touch

64: Kata may have scored in the corner, may have bounced the ball

65: He has put it down, great try saver from Jack Bird

65: Vete rattles another cage, this time Leutele

65: Warriors muscle up in defence and force Holmes into touch

67: UNFORCED ERROR WARRIORS
Nathan Friend makes an unforced error.
The reserve hooker spills his lollies out of dummy half and the Sharks will get a full set in good position

68: Warriors defending well this set

68: They hold strong and now have to work it away from their line. Boom they get a penalty. Huge help

70: Still have no idea who are favourites from here, neither team standing up and wanting it more

71: Johnson kicks out on the full. Might pay the full price for his error

72: Robson stays down from a high shot for a penalty, gets rejected. Brilliant, diving needs to go

72: Lolohea takes another kick with ease. This kid is great under the high ball

73: Possible try for Kata. Great play from Johnson who ran it on the last and split the defence, put in a kick for kata who looks to have gotten it down!!

73: TRY WARRIORS
Scored by Solomone Kata. Kick to come.
Video ref gives it the green light and the Warriors may be safe from here

73: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson unsuccessful.
Johnson misses again from touch. 14-10

74: Johnson knocks on from the short kick off! Sharks still alive!

75: TRY CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Scored by Andrew Fifita. Kick to come.
HUGE! Fifita scores one of the great individual tries when his side needed it. Belted off 6 Warriors defenders to touch down near the sideline

77: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Conversion attempt by Valentine Holmes successful.
Holmes holds his nerve and slots the extras

78: Sharks get the short kick off! Need to hold on for two minutes

78: Mannering charges down and races 70 metres

78: TRY WARRIORS
Scored by Shaun Johnson. Kick to come.
BOOM! Johnson scores a brilliant solo try on the next tackle stepping past seven Sharks defenders. Heartbreak for the home side

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Johnson knocks it over to seal a memorable win

80: Thanks for joining us! Stay tuned for our match report on what was a thrilling match between the Sharks and Warriors