Shaun Johnson sets up Warriors win over old club in final NRL game

Saturday, 31 August 2024

At PointsBet Stadium, Cronulla: Warriors 30 (Luke Metcalf 11’, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 45’ 50’ 79’, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 61 Marcelo Montoya 64’ tries; Shaun Johnson 3 goals) Sharks 28 (Teig Wilton 24’, Kayal Iro 32’, Samuel Stonestreet 34’ 68’ , Thomas Hazelton 37’, Braydon Trindall 4 goals). HT: Sharks 22-4. Sinbin: Kayal Iro (Sharks, 60’).

Shaun Johnson put on a clinic and got the fairytale finish he deserved in his final NRL game after a 30-28 win over the Sharks in one of the greatest comebacks in Warriors history.

Cronulla looked to be cruising at 22-4 ahead after three tries in a withering five-minute spell before halftime.

But, with Johnson pulling the strings, the Warriors scored five second half tries - including a hat-trick by Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

Johnson - who had three try assists - flung a pearler of a pass in the dying seconds for Watene-Zelezniak to nab the match-winner in the 79th minute at PointsBet Stadium after the Sharks had earlier regained the lead after Samuel Stonestreet’s second try.

Johnson, who was chaired off the field before a rousing haka, told Sky Sport he was “gassed’’ at the end of his 14-year career.

“It’s been a real special few weeks… this little kid from the Coast, I never thought this is how things would end, and the reception and the response and the love I’ve felt has certainly been overwhelming.”

Shaun Johnson celebrates after the Warriors score the winning try in his final NRL game.

As for the “last sequence’’ before the match-winning try, Johnson said he was ”in a zone I felt a whole heap last year’’ when he was Dally M halfback of the year. “I had a zone of flow, a clear state of mind exactly how I wanted to execute.” After the Warriors set uup “a three-play combo’’, Johnson ”saw Dall out there - he’s a pretty good finisher Dall“ - and ”threw one out there, and he does the rest.“

It was the same old script in the first half for the Warriors who dominated territory and possession in the first quarter, but had just one try to show for it.

They hardly helped their cause with four yardage penalties in the first spell and missed 26 tackles in the first stanza after starting so well.

On old boys’ day at Shark Park, Cronulla were initially stung by a recent alumni in his final game.

Johnson - bowing out against his only other NRL club - broke the game open in the 11th minute. The 33-year-old duped the defence with a delightful dummy, rolled back the years with a short-side dab and put halves partner Luke Metcalf away for the first try.

Two of the tinier Warriors, Metcalf and fullback Taine Tuaupiki combined to force a goal-line knock-on by Kiwis test backrower Briton Nikora in the Sharks’ first real scoring opportunity.

But then tricky Braydon Trindall deftly delivered for second rower Teig Wilton to score.

The Sharks had Jack Williams put on report for a late hit after Dallin Watene-Zelezniak sent Tuaupiki scurrying away on a fast break, but the Sharks held firm and then broke the Warriors through the middle.

Luke Metcalf scored the Warriors’ only first half try.

The next try hurt. Nikora made the momentum with a coruscating run and after a quick play-the-ball and another slick pass from Trindall, centre Kayal Iro, son of Kiwis great Kevin Iro, crashed over in the 32nd minute.

Hooker Blayke Brailey made a dummy half break two minutes later to send Stonestreet scampering away for a long range try.

State of Origin standoff Nicho Hynes - back after six weeks out with injury - pulled the string for Thomas Hazelton to power over in the 37th minute and the Warriors headed for the sheds 18 points down.

The Warriors got a break after the restart when the Bunker denied Nicho Hynes a try for an obstruction on Wayde Egan, who was playing his 100th game for the Warriors.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scores one of his three tries.

Cronulla had a second try to Stonestreet disallowed when a replay showed Sione Katoa had knocked on the loose ball.

Twice reprieved, the Warriors struck back with Watene-Zelezniak’s 99th career try in the corner with Johnson involved in the lead-up and adding the goal.

Watene-Zelezniak made it 100 when Johnson dinked a kick on the third tackle for the flying winger to dot down.

Cronulla lost Iro to the sinbin after a scuffle following a high tackle on Watene-Zelezniak and the Warriors made them play.

Johnson featured yet again, combining with Tuaupiki to put centre Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad across.

The 12-man Sharks defence was exposed again after a massive bust by Leiataua led to Montoya scoring near the corner after a Metcalf assist.

Jazz Tevaga - in his final Warriors game - made a try-saving tackle on Brayley, but the Sharks were able to spread the ball for Stonestreet to score and Trindall to convert to restore the Sharks’ lead.

There was another vintage dummy and run by Johnson, but Iro - back from the bin - smashed Warriors captain Mitchell Barnett for a turnover tackle.

Metcalf had a shot at a two-point field goal but sliced his effort wide but it didn’t matter because Johnson’s miracle ball gave Watene-Zelezniak the space to snatch the winner.

Then it was time for the Warriors to carry Johnson aloft on brawny shoulders as he left a NRL arena for the last time.