For at least 40-minutes the Sharks impressive win streak was in doubt, with Souths playing smart, aggressive football last Friday night in their round 20 Holden Cup clash.
Having hardly been challenged for much of their impressive unbeaten run, the Sharks were suddenly under pressure and needing to find another gear if they were to continue on their winning ways.
And another level was exactly what John Morris’s team was able to reach, 34 second half points while keeping their opponents scoreless, erased a 14-6 half time deficit as the Sharks chalked up an 11th successive win.
With a draw against the Panthers in round seven their only slight hiccup, the NYC Sharks are now unbeaten since going down to the Eels at ANZ Stadium way back on March 25 in their round four match.
This week it is the Warriors standing in the way of the Sharks increasing those respective streaks and if looking at a competition table some may think the result to be a forgone conclusion, however Morris and his coaching staff will be hard at work trying to stamp out any complacency.
One of the perennial powerhouses of the NYC competition, the last-placed Warriors have fallen on some difficult times this season but with a squad featuring power and skill, anything could happen should the Sharks arrive without the necessary attitude and application.
Aiding the Sharks cause will be a settled team line up, with Morris enjoying the luxury of naming a team with just a couple of changes. Experienced prop Brock Ilett returns after missing the Souths match due to injury, while bench utility Johnathan Tufuga has been ruled out.
In an added bonus, former NSW Under 18’s prop Daniel Vasquez returned last week after a lengthy stint on the sidelines and should be improved by that first up run when he takes the field against the Kiwis tomorrow night.
Morris has stripped back his 23-man squad as named on Tuesday to 20-players, with his 17-man team list to be revealed one hour before the scheduled 5.45pm kick-off (NZ Time).
Sharks fans can see the match on Fox Sports from 3.45pm (Sydney time).
NYC Team List – Round 21
Sharks v Warriors
Friday, July 28
Mount Smart Stadium
Kick-off – 5.45pm NZ time (3.45pm Sydney time)
1 William KENNEDY
2 Sione KATOA
3 Isaac LUMELUME
4 Bessie AUFAGA-TOOMAGA
5 Josh TUILAGI
6 Luke METCALF
7 Kyle FLANAGAN
8 Ryan KING
9 Blayke BRAILEY
10 Brock ILETT
11 Briton NIKORA
12 Tony MATAUTIA
13 Billy MAGOULIAS
Interchange
14 Eddie FAALUA
15 Daniel VASQUEZ
16 Joshua CARR
17 Jackson FERRIS
18 Zachary FAULKNER
20 Lane FERLING
21 Jesse Ramien
