Addin Fonua-Blake scores the first try of the Warriors 2024 season. Photo: Photosport
After all the hype and anticipation, the Warriors 2024 campaign is off to a losing start.
The Warriors have been beaten in their season opener at Mount Smart.
A packed stadium saw the Sharks pip the Warriors 16-12, with the home side kept score-less in the second half.
Skipper Tohu Harris said it was a bitter pill to swallow after so much excitement.
Shaun Johnson was masterful with the boot, but the Warriors committed far too many errors with ball in hand.
It was a hostile greeting for the visitors while the crowd erupted for their home town heroes.
Things didn't take long to heat up, Braydon Trindall rattling Dallin Watene-Zelezniak's jaw with a high shot, granting the Warriors the first penalty and attacking set of the game.
It took just nine minutes for the Warrior to crack Cronulla, Addin Fonua Blake crashing his way over the chalk.
The hosts struck again moments later, Johnson securing the turnover and Luke Metcalf justifying his selection with a stunning piece of individual brilliance.
The five-eighth danced his way through five Sharks defenders to score a screamer under the sticks.
Compounding Cronulla's woes, they were pinged for a shove in the back, gifting the Warriors another golden opportunity on attack.
Johnson sent a cross kick to Watene-Zelezniak who went aerial but was taken in the air by Ronaldo Mulitalo, the indiscretion leading to a penalty but bafflingly, not a penalty try.
Kurt Capewell tackles Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, Photo: Photosport
Another pinpoint Johnson kick gave the Warriors back to back repeat sets, but the Sharks somehow managed to survive under immense pressure.
Some brilliant defence from Rocco Berry kept the Sharks at bay just before the break.
Taine Tuaupiki was taken off for an HIA after a collision, Roger Tuivasa Sheck moved to the back.
The Sharks then managed to pull one back before the break, Jesse Ramien powering his way over from dummy half, the crowd screaming for a review but to no avail.
Cronulla sparked another attack in the final seconds of the first forty, Marcelo Montoya putting in a solid shot to kill the momentum, the sides heading to the sheds at 12-6.
The Warriors made a sloppy start to the second, Tuivasa-Sheck spilling a high one and Mulitalo scoring in the corner from the ensuing attack.
Warriors playmaker Shaun Johnson on attack. Photo: Photosport
Nicho Hynes pushed his conversion wide to keep the hosts ahead.
A storming surge from Fonua-Blake brought the momentum back to the home side as the fans again found its substantial voice.
Another Cronulla high tackle had the Sharks camped deep in their own half as Johnson forced another line drop out.
They would survive and canter up field, Siosifa Talakai going in for his side's third try to take the lead for the first time.
Vice-captain Wayde Eagan left the field with a wrist injury, Freddy Lussick replacing the hooker.
Johnson began to really stamp his authority, a typically jinking run forcing a fourth drop out, followed shortly by a fifth.
The Warriors were struggling to capitlise on their weight of possession, held scoreless for half an hour of the second half.
Some monstrous defence with the Sharks on their own line forced an error, gifting the Warriors a scrum 10 metres out, right in front of the horns.
Cronulla again repelled the onslaught, but were called on to defend their line a final time courtesy of Johnson's impeccable kicking game.
But as was the story of the second for the home side, they could not convert the chance, the final whistle bringing a palpable deflation from the fans.
Scorers:
Warriors 12 (Fonua-Blake, Metcalf, tries, Johnson 2 goals)
Sharks 16 (Raimen, Mulitalo, Talakai, tries, Hynes 2 goals)
NZ Warriors fans at Go Media Stadium. Photo: Photosport