Dallin Watene-Zelezniak celebrates a try against Cronulla. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
Without co-captain Mitch Barnett for the rest of the season and with star hooker Wayde Egan a late scratching before kickoff, NZ Warriors have produced their most complete performance of the 2025 NRL season to overwhelm Cronulla Sharks 40-10 in Sydney.
Five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita scored a try double, including a 90-metre intercept in the dying moments to rub salt into the wounds, but the visitors leant heavily on their emerging youngsters to break their opponents down, keeping them scoreless through the second half.
The Warriors were quickly on top, with tries to winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and centre Adam Pompey, but needed a penalty from halfback Luke Metcalf to lead 12-10 at halftime.
At that point, momentum and most of the key stats seemed to have turned for the Sharks, but they offered very little after the restart, especially once centre Kayal Iro - son of Kiwis icon Kevin Iro - left the field with a pec (chest) injury.
Iro made history in the first half, becoming the first NRL player to score in each of their first nine games of a season, but may now be sidelined for a while.
Early in the second half, Warriors co-captain James Fisher-Harris took a delightful short pass from young second-rower Demitric Vaimauga to cross untouched for a try, then Vaimauga scored one of his own, as the scoreline started to balloon.
Teenager Leka Halasima had the next try before Harris-Tavita provided the icing on the cake with his brace.
The result was especially sweet for Metcalf and hooker Sam Healey, who replaced Egan at late notice. Both came up through the Sharks system - Healey's dad Mitch is a local legend - before crossing the Tasman to chase their fortunes.
The Warriors are now 10-3 for the season and sit second on the table for now, with a bye week looming.
Their next outing will see them host struggling four-time defending champions Penrith Panthers at Go Media Stadium on June 21.
Relive the action with RNZ's live blog:
Team lists:
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Mawene Hiroti 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes
Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Siosifa Talakai
Reserves: 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Billy Burns 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Hohepa Puru 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Niwhai Puru
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Kurt Capewell 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Jacob Laban 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith
Reserves: 18. Tom Ale 20. Samuel Healey 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Ali Leiataua 23. Taine Tuaupiki
