The New Zealand Warriors have beaten the Cronulla Sharks 16-12 in their National Rugby League clash at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland to move up to sixth in the standings.
Manu Vatuvei grapples with Cronulla defenders at Mount Smart, August 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Warriors coach Andrew McFadden knows he isn't in a position to complain about the details - all that matters is his team keeps banking the National Rugby League competition points.
A worrying trend has developed where each week the Warriors lose key personnel.
After yesterday's scrappy 16-12 win against the last-placed Sharks, former Origin centre Dane Nielsen (concussion) and promising rookie Tuimoala Lolohea (hamstring) were added to the list.
With a host of players forced into unfamiliar positions, and errors piling up, the Warriors clung desperately to their slender lead and climbed to sixth on the NRL ladder.
After breaking a five-game losing streak against the Sharks, McFadden says it was a pretty scrappy win, but they needed to win and they haven't backed up after a big win in the past, so they'll take it.