KEY POINTS:
NRL Warriors 18 Sharks 4
If there was any doubt that the Warriors are playoff contenders then last night's display buried it deep into the Mt Smart Stadium turf along with the Sharks.
On another cold and wet night, the club maintained the form that has their
stadium dubbed as "the graveyard" across the ditch. They held on for their eighth win in 11 matches in Auckland and edged another step closer to finals football.
The 2002 Minor Premiers warmed to their defensive task and at times tackled like their season depended on it - and it does. With their poor points differential (-95) the Warriors simply cannot afford to lose. And with this momentum, at least at home, it doesn't look like they will.
Many top eight sides will be looking over their shoulder as the Warriors have won six of their last seven games. And the confidence, which brings flashes of the unstoppable razzle-dazzle football of old, is returning.
A key factor is the return of Wade McKinnon. The fullback, who refused a TV interview during the week because "he'd get the boys into the eight first", was in the game from the outset. He juggled a kick-off, was put on report for a late shoulder charge and injected crucial adrenaline.
Suddenly the Warriors look capable of scoring from anywhere. It is no coincidence that McKinnon's return sees many of their most potent attacking weapons - Jerome Ropati, Nathan Fien and Manu Vatuvei - finding their best form.
The first try was laid on by a Fien break that Ropati finished off with a scything run.
A minute after Ropati touched down, McKinnon fumbled his own chance - a pass from a half break from Ben Matulino - and the Warriors were punished. Luke Covell crossed in the corner to demonstrate how clinical the Ricky Stuart coached side is. But the Kangaroos' coach's joy was short-lived as the visitors went on to make a surfeit of unforced errors.
The Warriors' response showed their increased maturity. Vatuvei crossed for his ninth try of the season and the home side was in control at 12-4.
The other factor that has seen the Warriors burying the NRL front-runners in Auckland is their defence. Even without Micheal Luck, the top tackler in the NRL at an average of around 40 per game, the defence scrambled to good effect.
The home side's desperation was summed up by McKinnon before the break. He slid his leg under the ball to deny substitute Adam Peek and make a crucial save in the context of the match. The next to score after halftime was hugely influential.
A controversial moment, with hooker Ian Henderson being pushed out when he played the ball, offered the Sharks the chance. With the game in the balance, Fraser Anderson and Brett Kimmorley's dropped balls were met by huge roars from the Mt Smart faithful. That reaction was only superseded by the news that the Evers-Swindell twins had rowed to gold in Beijing. It proved an ideal catalyst for the Warriors coming home.
All of the Sharks' enterprise, aided by some poor second-half handling and discipline from the Warriors, was shut down by desperation. As is accustomed with supporting the Warriors, there is never an easy final 20 minutes to enjoy. But every time they gave the Sharks a chance they made up for it with their tackling.
Lance Hohaia spun his way across the Sharks' line to seal the win and added another victim to the graveyard.
The deciding factor in the Warriors' remaining three matches will be whether they can translate their home form on to the road. The Warriors have to win the remainder of their matches against the Panthers (home), Dragons and Eels (both away). McKinnon, and all Warriors fans, will hope that he is part of it after being placed on report for a late shoulder charge.
Warriors 18 (J Ropati, M Vatuvei, L. Hohaia tries, M. Witt 3 gls) Sharks 4 (L. Covell try)
HT: Warriors 12-4 Sharks
