Tough road trip for Sharks against in-form Warriors

Their first trip ‘across the ditch’ since 2019, against a Warriors team playing with confidence, in a game where there would be at least a little revenge on their minds, sets up an exciting encounter for the Sharks in Auckland tomorrow.

Throw in the fact that two of the Warriors best in recent weeks in Shaun Johnson and Luke Metcalf are former Sharks, while the winner will get the jump on their opponents in the race for Finals berths, and Sunday at New Media Stadium becomes crucial for both clubs.

The Sharks have won their last three, all by big margins, as they sit in third position on the ladder, the Warriors four of their most recent five, including an impressive victory over the Eels a week ago which left them sixth and two points behind the Cronulla side, and it will be two teams in form chasing the all-important competition points.

Under the guidance of a new coach, the Sharks saw first-hand the change in the Warriors when they were run down by the Kiwi outfit earlier this year, with Wade Graham one to note the transformation.  

“I think Andrew Webster has had an immediate impact on that club, the way they are playing for each other and their commitment, especially defensively,” Graham said.

As a result of Covid and the NRL draw in 2022, the game marks the first time in four years the Sharks have played in New Zealand, and while it seems like a long time ago, winger Ronaldo Mulitalo hasn’t forgotten a game where a Blake Green field goal sealed the result in the Warriors favour.

“We played in Wellington, not Mt Smart, I think it was our fifth loss in a row, my second NRL game. I remember that game vividly. We lost by a point,” Mulitalo said.

However, born and bred in South Auckland, with plenty of family expected at the game tomorrow, Mulitalo looks forward to the experience.

“I played Mt Smart for the Kiwis and it was nice to get back there. I’m excited to get over there and to get the challenge on,” he said.  

In getting that ‘challenge on’ as he describes it, the Sharks will need to do it without Braden Hamlin Uele for at least another week, after it was determined he wasn’t quite right to return from a rib issue, with the hard charging prop omitted from the 19-man squad.

Joining him on the sideline is Royce Hunt who continues his rehabilitation from a syndesmosis injury, however their unavailability creates an opportunity for Jesse Colquhoun, who was impressive in limited minutes in the win over the Tigers.

Colquhoun joins Tom Hazelton, Jack Williams and Wade Graham on the interchange bench.

In the 47 matches played between the two teams, the Sharks hold the advantage with 28 wins, compared to 19 for the Warriors, that number including the 32-30 victory in round five this year.

That win, which was secured with an 80th minute Shaun Johnson penalty goal, represented the Warriors equal second biggest comeback after they had trailed 26-6 late into the first half.

While the New Zealand team managed to pull one back on the Sharks at PointsBet, of late the Sharks have enjoyed the upper hand, with 10 wins from the past 13 matches played.

Warriors have won just three of the past 13 matches against the Sharks.

Tomorrow will be the first match between these sides in New Zealand since 2019, as Mulitalo recalled the Warriors winning 19-18 in Wellington courtesy of a 76th minute field goal.

The Sharks record at Mt Smart is also strong, having been successful in five of the past six, including the last three, while the Warriors have just one win in their past four games in New Zealand and since returning to Mt Smart in 2022 have won five of nine matches.

While Johnson played a role in his team’s win earlier this season, the game will be the first for Metcalf against his former club. Metcalf, who crossed for two tries in the Warriors win last week, played seven NRL matches for the Sharks during the 2021-2022 seasons.

As for the Sharks, they will be looking for wingers Sione Katoa and his teammate Mulitalo to continue their try-scoring form. Katoa scored a hat-trick last week, taking his season tally to nine, with his equal highest tally against any club (7) coming against the Warriors. He scored a hat-trick against the Warriors in Round 14 last season.

Mulitalo has enjoyed a similar strike rate, scoring eight tries in eight matches against the Warriors including a double in each of the past two games played. Only Alex Johnston of the Rabbitohs has more line breaks this season than Mulitalo.  

The Sharks v Warriors match is scheduled for a 4.00pm kick off (local time – 2.00pm Sydney time).