Wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored a hattrick of tries, but could not prevent his NZ Warriors suffering back-to-back defeats, falling 36-22 to Cronulla Sharks at Sydney's Ocean Protect Stadium.
After crashing to Wests Tigers last week, the Warriors hoped to regroup on the road and were off to a promising start, but fell off the pace midway through the first half, conceding three consecutive tries to hand over momentum.
Watene-Zelezniak gave them the early lead, but Sharks fullback Will Kennedy scored twice within four minutes to turn the tide, then centre KL Iro compounded their problems.
Watene-Zelezniak scored again before halftime, as Cronulla led 24-10 at the break, and then again immediately afterwards to rekindle some hope of a comeback, but they not continue the rally.
Erin Clark gathered a consolation penalty try in the dying moments, after he was impeded in his chase for a loose ball behind the goal-line, but the Warriors lost centre Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (head) and five-eighth Luke Metcalf (hamstring) in quick succession near the end.
The Warriors now face archrivals Melbourne Storm, coming off three straight losses and a 50-point horror show against Penrith Panthers over the weekend.
SHARE ME