League: Warriors stunned by late Sharks try

SHARKS 28 WARRIORS 24

These are the sorts of games good sides win and the Warriors again found themselves on the wrong end of another painful loss.

After losing a number of tight games already this season, and with the Warriors in danger of missing the bus to Top Eightville, Adam Dykes delivered the fatal blow with a great solo try in the 89th minute. The Warriors' record now stands at three wins and five losses.

The Warriors had a taste of what life will be like without Stacey Jones when the French-bound halfback failed a late fitness test on a hamstring strain sustained during the loss to the Panthers last week.

The previously erratic Lance Hohaia was outstanding filling in for the Little General, delivering a tidy kicking game and what seemed would be a decisive second-half try. He also kicked four goals from four attempts and made an incredible late covering tackle when Nigel Vagana looked set for the corner.

Almost as a mark of respect to the absent Jones, it was a largely flat first half, made interesting by the closeness of the contest.

It might also have had something to do with the fact it saw the two sides with the best defensive records in the NRL go head to head.

But it sparked into life in the second stanza only to end in heartbreak for the Warriors.

Steve Price continued to lead by example, gobbling up the metres with his powerful runs, and giant winger Manu Vatuvai continued to impress in attack and defence.

But it was Hohaia and Wairangi Koopu who were the standout Warriors, and it was appropriate Koopu, playing his 100th NRL game, struck the first blow when he waltzed in to score in the 15th minute.

Sharks and Australian halfback Brett Kimmorly showed his class soon after, dancing his way through to level the scores before winger David Simmons put the 'home' side in front on the half hour.

But Warriors centre Todd Byrne continued his remarkable run when he pounced on a Luke Covell error behind his own tryline to score his sixth try in as many games.

In the tit-for-tat nature of the game, David Peachey then struck for Sharks before the Warriors edged in front again, with Richard Villasanti scampering in 40m after he recovered his own charge down.

Hohaia edged his own side ahead before Nigel Vagana scored to set up a grandstand finish that Dykes ruined for the Warriors.

Sharks 16 (B Kimmorley, D Simmons, D Peachey, N Vagana, A Dykes tries, L Covell 4 gls)

Warriors 12 (W Koopu, T Byrne, R Villasanti, L Hohaia tries, L Hohaia 4 gls).

HT: 10-12.

In other matches, Canberra downed Penrith 26-18 and St George Illawarra smashed South Sydney 42-10.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY