League: Time for Warriors to strike as Cronulla's cracks show

Can the Warriors strike while the ire is hot?

Just as importantly, will events of the last week de-stabilise Cronulla or will they bring their players closer together?

Cronulla coach Stuart Raper has already conceded his squad is "rattled" by the sacking of Kiwi Tevita Latu this week, and that it has also robbed the Sharks of a key strike weapon.

The sharp-running Latu had become a growing force, particularly as an interchange dummy half.

Disruptions like this are a bit like rule changes in sport. You can try to guess the outcome, yet they can often have the opposite effect to what might be expected.

However, in this case, cracks are showing. Kiwi veteran Nigel Vagana criticised Cronulla's sacking of Latu as hasty and harsh and has in turn been asked to explain his comments by Cronulla bosses.

Cronulla showed plenty of heart in their failed comeback against the Bulldogs on Sunday, just hours before Latu punched a woman and almost certainly ended his professional league career.

They are down on power and experience though, having lost prop Ben Ross for the season and with veteran forward battler Lance Thompson and five-eighth Adam Dykes sidelined this week.

Ross' demise has given Taranaki product James Stosic, a former Junior Kiwi and Canberra Raider, his chance this season. Cronulla have not settled on a new halves combination either. Vagana played there two weeks ago against Canberra, and now former Rabbitoh Brett Kearney is in the No 6 jersey.

With Latu also out of the picture, it looks like the ideal time for the Warriors to strike.

The Auckland side made a late change to their lineup yesterday, with big wing Manu Vatuvei withdrawn because of a hamstring problem.

Todd Byrne goes straight on to the wing as his replacement, in effect another snub for test back Clinton Toopi who has failed to make the travelling squad and appears well on the outer with coach Ivan Cleary.

Toopi's career reached a nadir two rounds ago against St George Illawarra. Rather than set the tone as a 100-plus game veteran on big wages should, he is as erratic as ever. Toopi's performances are unduly influenced by events around him.

He is set to claim English riches after this season, but Cleary may have already decided to invest elsewhere.

NZ Warriors v Cronulla
Shark Park, 9.30 tonight

CRONULLA
David Simmons
Darren Albert
Nigel Vagana
Phil Bailey
Luke Covell
Brett Kearney
Brett Kimmorley (c)
James Stosic
Luke Douglas
Reece Williams
Greg Bird
Paul Gallen
Interchange: Richard Villasanti, Matt Hilder, Beau Scott, Tony Caine, Hutch Maiava.

WARRIORS
Brent Webb
Todd Byrne
Tony Martin
Simon Mannering
Misi Taulapapa
Jerome Ropati
Grant Rovelli
Ruben Wiki
Nathan Fien
Steve Price (c)
Awen Guttenbeil
Wairangi Koopu
Sione Faumuina
Interchange: George Gatis, Evarn Tuimavave, Louis Anderson, Michael Luck, Sam Rapira.