Andrew Fifita brain fade costly as Sharks fall 19-18 to Warriors

No matter what you call it, Andrew Fifita is set to be in trouble with the NRL judiciary — and most certainly, his coach — after a shoulder charge on proved the difference in his side’s loss to the Warriors.

Brain fade?

Maybe.

But no matter what you call it, Cronulla bad boy Andrew Fifita is set to be in trouble with the NRL judiciary — and most certainly, his coach — after a shoulder charge on Warriors’ Lachlan Burr proved the difference in his side’s Friday Night Football loss over in Wellington.

On a night that was supposed to be all about Sharks No. 6 Shaun Johnson taking on his old club for the first time, Fifita instead finds himself as the undeniable headline after his Shire club slumped to its fifth straight defeat.

Andrew Fifita is sent to the sin bin against the Warriors. Picture: AAP

Which isn’t to say, with their season on the line, the Sharks weren’t brave.

They were.

For so much of this one, producing the greatest defensive effort outside Darryl Kerrigan keeping his house in ‘The Castle’.

But then … the moment that mattered.

Defending his tryline with a tick over 10 minutes to play, and the Sharks leading 18-16, Fifita raced up out of the line to thwack Burr late, and with a hit that would not only see his side penalised, but forced to play a man short as he was sin binned.

And by the time he got back on?

Well, Chanel Harris-Tevita had kicked the penalty goal.

And Green, his first NRL field goal.

Game over.

The result also saved the match officials for coming under scrutiny for a try to Sharks winger Sosaia Feki, which appeared to come from a forward pass.

Blake Green, right, was the hero for the Warriors. Picture: Getty Images

SHAUN JOHNSON

At the start of the year, only one question hung over the new Sharkies No. 6: Is he really worth $1 million a year?

Four months on, the jury remains out.

Up against his old club for the first time, Johnson produced the type of mixed performance that has not only come to define his first year in the Shire, but much of his NRL career.

Strong early, the 28-year-old threw a nice short ball to put rookie backrower Brit Nikora across for a try.

But from there?

Well, Johnson struggled with his kicking game, incurred a costly drop inside his own half (and when the game was still there to be won) and failed to find the knockout blow against a playing group he effectively knows inside out.

The loss continues a horror run for the Sharkies, who following a hype start to the year thanks to the Johnson signing are now lengthening odds to make the playoffs.

Shaun Johnson and the Sharks came up short in Wellington. Picture: AAP

SHARKIES DEFENCE

For so much of this one, it seemed the yarn was going to be about Cronulla’s tryline defence.

Like the Warriors wouldn’t break them even if Green went and hired himself a Leopard Tank.

All up, the Sharks defended 45 tackles inside their own 20m zone.

Yep, FORTY-FIVE.

And all while the Warriors, at the other end, had to take care of … um, one.

In the first half alone, Cronulla defended 27 tackles — or almost six complete sets — inside their own 20m area.

Incredibly, they were almost consecutive, too.

After defending four straight sets, and then carting the ball out to halfway, the Sharkies were then forced into something like a mulligan after Johnson kicked, connected with a Warriors player, watched the ball go into touch, and gave his old club a scrum feed.

Meaning soon enough, he and Cronulla were defending a tryline again.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck had another big night for the Warriors. Picture: AAP

ROGER THE DODGER

To borrow from an old headline involving Don Bradman: RTS runs and runs and runs.

Only a week after earning himself a whopping 325m against the Brisbane Broncos, Warriors No. 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck went and doubled down with a further 300m against the Sharkies.

Made eight tackle busts, too.

Together with Green, continually threatening a Sharks defence who, for so much of this one, seemed impregnable.

Honestly, imagine the headlines if Tuivasa-Sheck played with, say, the Roosters? Or State of Origin.

We would probably already have a statue outside ANZ Stadium.

Elsewhere, Cronulla backrower Jack Williams was placed on report for a lifting tackle.

WARRIORS 19 (B Green K Nikorima tries I Luke 3 C Harris-Tavita 2 goals B Green field goal) bt CRONULLA 18 (S Feki B Nikora C Townsend tries S Johnson 3 goals) at Westpac Stadium. Referee: Henry Perenara, Phil Henderson. Crowd: 14,295