The Sharks get one final chance at victory in this match, with a fresh set on the Warriors 10-metre line with 35 second left in the match.
But it’s too much to ask this late in a trial match and the game fizzles to a 12-12 end as the full-time siren rings out across Shark Park.
No golden point in trial matches, which means we have a draw for the first pre-season match of 2025.
Full-time: Sharks 12, Warriors 12
It’s an unconventional play, and certainly not the one Cronulla intended to play, but the Sharks come up with the points to draw even with the Warriors with five minutes left in the match.
Jayden Berrell takes the ball from dummy-half and, swarmed by Warriors defenders, is left with no other option that to kick the grubber himself.
It’s a play that even catches the Warriors off guard, and Hohepa Puru sneaks through to clean up the ball and score for the home side.
Mawene Hiroti kicks the conversion, and it’s 12-12 with three minutes left in the match.
Taj Ford crosses over to score for the Sharks, but referee Liam Kennedy sends it up as no try.
Bunker referee Kasey Badger rules that Sharks forward Blake Hosking takes out a Warriors defender, denying the visitors the chance of stopping Ford.
The Warriors hold the lead in this match as we enter the final 10 minutes.
Warriors 12, Sharks 6
The Warriors No. 21 Jett Cleary makes his way onto the field for the first time as a Warrior.
Jett is the younger brother of three-time premiership winning halfback Nathan, with Jett coming onto the field in place of Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf.
It’s the Warriors who score first in this second half, with Taine Tuaupiki scoring down the right edge.
Luke Metcalf ran the ball deep into the Sharks line to draw in defenders, before passing out to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad who tapped the ball out to Tuaupiki on the wing.
Metcalf nails the conversion, and the Warriors take the lead for the first time tonight.
Warriors 12, Sharks 6 with 27 minutes to go
We’re into the final 40 minutes at Shark Park.
Expect more interchanges in this second half. As we mentioned ahead of kick-off, teams are allowed as many interchanges as they want, and Warriors coach Andrew Webster and Sharks Craig Fitzgibbon will use that as an opportunity to give as many of their top 30 as possible match minutes.
That’s the half-time at Shark Park.
We’re locked at 6-6 after the first 40 minutes, with both teams trying to shake off the rust of the off-season.
Cronulla are completing well – at 86 per cent – but they’re definitely not taking advantage of their opportunities considering the Warriors are completing at just 58 per cent. With all the errors coming from the Warriors, the Sharks have been gifted plenty of fresh sets and good field position, but they’re yet to take charge in this match.
Half-time: Sharks 6, Warriors 6
Two set restarts and about 10 play-the-balls in front of the Warriors line, but the Sharks still can’t find the points.
Playmaker Daniel Atkinson goes for a grubber early in the set, but it’s too heavy off the boot and goes tumbling over the dead ball line.
A really average set from Cronulla, who should have been able to capitalise by putting pressure on the Warriors goal-line defence.
Sharks 6, Warriors 6 after 36 minutes
The Warriors have been rolling through their sets, but Luke Metcalf puts a beautiful kick in inside the 40 metres and nails his first 40/20 attempt of the season.
Great field position for the Warriors here, and a chance to get on top for the first time in this game.