League: Sharks snatch last-minute victory over Warriors

The New Zealand Warriors shonky goal line defence was fatally exposed by Cronulla playmaker Adam Dykes as the Sharks stole a last-minute 28-24 victory in their National Rugby League (NRL) clash in Perth last night.

Dykes dummied through a gaping hole in the 79th minute to complete an unlikely comeback victory in an error-ridden encounter at Members Equity Stadium.

The Warriors led 24-16 with 20 minutes to play but conceded tries to Kiwis centre Nigel Vagana and Dykes to leave coach Tony Kemp aghast at the concession of two competition points.

Despite committing fundamental errors the Sharks closed out the match clinically after wing Francis Meli turned over possession 40-metres from the Warriors line.

Desperate defence held out Paul Mellor but a Brett Kimmorley grubber to the in goal earned a repeat set of six and the Warriors finally wilted on the fourth tackle when five-eighth Dykes left Louis Anderson wrong-footed and then burst through the attempt of Awen Guttenbeil to score before gleefully kicking the ball into the crowd.

Lance Hohaia, a late replacement for playmaker Stacey Jones who was a late defection with a hamstring strain, looked to have secured a valuable away win when he scored handy to the sticks after video referee Chris Ward confirmed there was no double movement.

The halfback then rescued the Warriors after Vagana intercepted a Jerome Ropati pass and streaked 80-metres before Hohaia lowered him with a superb tackle six minutes from time.

The Warriors led 12-10 at halftime thanks to a 36th minute try to centre Todd Byrne, who pounced after Luke Covell fluffed a Hohaia grubber behind his goal line.

Wairangi Koopu celebrated his 100th first grade game for the club with the opening score in the 15th minute via a Clinton Toopi break but the Sharks struck back swiftly when Kimmorley caught the Warriors close-range defence napping for the first time three minutes later.

Vagana may attract attention from the judiciary for a heavy hit which left Byrne dazed shortly before the former Sydney Rooster scored.

The Warriors are likely to drop out of the top eight after the round concludes today.

- NZPA