NRL:NZ Warriors drop to heartbreaking defeat against Cronulla Sharks

Cronulla Sharks half Braydon Trindall has slotted a long field goal with seconds remaining to snatch a 10-8 nailbiter against NZ Warriors at Go Media Stadium.

As fulltime approached, the home side had chance to draw even again, but centre Adam Pompey was wide right with a penalty attempt, as the Warriors suffered their fifth loss of the NRL season.

Without several senior players through injury and State of Origin commitments, the Auckland side trailled 8-0 after 26 minutes, with Cronulla centre Jesse Ramian scoring his team’s only try.

Moments later, the Warriors found the scoreboard, when halfback Te Maire Martin sliced through for a try next to the posts and they were just two points astray at halftime.

Midway through the second half, Pompey levelled the contest with a penalty and both teams had their chance to grab victory in the dying moments.

‘Tricky’ Trindall took his chance, when the Sharks entered the Warriors half and he connected sweetly from about 45 metres out.

The Warriors kicked off short and regained the ball inside Sharks territory. They won a penalty, when wing Sione Katoa was guilty of an early tackle, but Pompey was wayward with his kick at goal and Cronulla survived for their fourth straight win.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster handed an NRL debut to rookie hooker Makaia Tafua, who impressed with accurate passing and hard hits.

The result leaves the Warriors in second on the points table, after back-to-back losses, now six points behind Penrith Panthers.

Read how the game unfolded below.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.