League: Fien chasing next scalp

Nathan Fien

Having put a dent in Cronulla's playoff hopes, the New Zealand Warriors are looking to do the same to another mid-table side in the National Rugby League next weekend.

The Warriors beat the Sharks 12-10 in an arm wrestle in cold, rainy conditions in Auckland on Saturday night.

Next Saturday, they host North Queensland, who are coming off a 14-54 loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs in Townsville.

The victory over the Sharks ended a three-match losing streak that had stymied the Warriors' own semifinal ambitions.

Hooker and former Cowboy Nathan Fien said it felt good to get back to winning ways.

"We want to finish this season as strong as we can and we've got another four weeks," he said.

"It's a pretty tough ride home, but we're looking forward to getting out there against the Cowboys and maybe knock their season."

A late try by interchange forward Micheal Luck, his first for the club, clinched the two competition points for the Warriors against Cronulla.

The home side had gone ahead early in the contest when halfback Grant Rovelli showed some good footwork to cross the tryline.

The Sharks hit back with tries to skipper Brett Kimmorley and winger Luke Covell, but it was not enough to stave off a sixth successive defeat for the Sydneysiders.

Fien said the memory of the Warriors' poor performance when they lost 20-34 at Cronulla in late May was a spur for the team.

Another was the fact that club stalwart Awen Guttenbeil was having his testimonial match.

"We got embarrassed when we went to Shark Park midway through the season," Fien said.

"If you're looking for motivation, that was all we needed. Then there was the occasion -- Awen's testimonial game."

Guttenbeil, in his 167th match of an 11-season career with the Warriors that is about to come to close, produced a tireless display that lasted the full 80 minutes, despite his carrying a thigh injury.

The second rower, who will play for British club Castleford in the Super League next year, made 50 tackles and gained 193 metres, both game-high statistics.

"He played the 80, but he was also leading and calling the blokes with him," Fien said.

"It's the type of bloke he is. He's definitely inspirational. We've got a couple of really good leaders and he's one of them."

Apart from the defeat at Cronulla, the Warriors were also looking to put another disappointing display behind them.

On the trip to Penrith two rounds ago, they clocked off in the second half on the way to a 6-36 loss, their heaviest defeat of the season.

Fien said one key difference on Saturday was an improved kick chase, which had been poor against the Panthers.

"We spoke about it during the week, what we needed to do, and we just kept doing that all night," he said.

"We turned them around, had a good kick chase and that sort of set up the victory."

With the Warriors having mainly pride to play for over the remaining rounds, coach Ivan Cleary said victory against the Sharks had been important.

"We really did need to win just to help the boys for the next weeks," he said.

"They've been doing everything right, been training really well. It's certainly important for us to finish it off and have that win."

- NZPA