Sharks secure comeback victory over the New Zealand Warriors

FOR the second time in four days, star playmaker Todd Carney sparked an almighty fightback for the team wearing sky blue.

FOR the second time in four days, star playmaker Todd Carney sparked an almighty fightback for the team wearing sky blue.

After helping NSW level the Origin series against Queensland in front of 83,110 at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday, Carney last night weaved some magic for Cronulla, helping his club come from behind to beat the Warriors 20-19.

While the win in front of 9271 Sharks fans who braved the rain in the Shire will not carry as many headlines as Origin, there was no denying the importance of the two competition points.

GALLERY: SHARKS V WARRIORS

Making the win extra sweet for the Sharks was the fact they did it without inspirational skipper Paul Gallen, who failed to shake a knee injury he suffered during Origin II. They also missed Wade Graham because of a hamstring complaint, and Andrew Fifita, who underwent emergency surgery to remove his appendix on Thursday.

Coach Shane Flanagan added the referees and touch judges did not help their cause, coming up with "four clangers", including a forward pass late in the game that gave the Warriors one final attacking play.

As for Carney, the No. 6 said it was important he backed up the NSW victory with a solid effort for his club, who have now won their last six games a Toyota Stadium.

He threw a lovely pass to Jeremy Smith to set up Jeff Robson's try mid-way through the second half, then produced a giant 40/20, which led to Robson's second four-pointer the next set.

"I wanted to come out and play the best I could, build from Wednesday and continue my form for the Sharks," Carney said afterwards.

See how we covered the game at our match centre.

"It's a completely different role when I come back here. I made an uncharacteristic error early when I kicked out on the full, but I thought I bounced back with my kicking game, and I thought 'Robbo' was great, he controlled the team really well off the back of some go-forward late in the second half, and that's what won us the game.

"Yesterday I was sore, I was a little rattled and didn't train with the team. But this morning was surprising."

Cronulla raced out to an early lead with a try to Ben Pomeroy, who made the most of a handling error from Warriors' Afghani debutant Omar Slaimankhel, a late call-up for cult hero Manu Vatuvei.

But the Warriors hit back soon after when Kevin Locke showed plenty of speed to get around Matthew Wright.

The Warriors pulled further ahead through a try to Shaun Johnson, who collected a James Maloney cross-field bomb that was missed by everybody.

When Maloney slotted a field goal, it made it 13-6, before a Carney penalty goal on the stroke of halftime gave the home fans hope.

After hulking Warriors centre Konrad Hurrell carried three Cronulla defenders across the line to make it 17-6 - then Maloney slotted a 43m penalty goal - it looked all but over for Cronulla. But then Carney took on the line and ignited the home side.

Flanagan said Gallen could have played, "but I need him at the end of the season, so hopefully his knee is right come Origin III and beyond."

CRONULLA 20 (J Robson 2 B Pomeroy tries T Carney 4 goals) bt WARRIORS 19 (K Hurrell S Johnson K Locke tries J Maloney 3 goals J Maloney field goal) at Toyota Stadium. Referee: Steve Lyons, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 9,271.

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