NRL 2016:
James Maloney slots matchwinning field goal as
Sharks edge out
Warriors
ON Wednesday night,
NSW five-eighth James Maloney wanted to join his
Origin teammates in a very dark
hole.
On
Saturday night, the 30-year-old dragged
Cronulla out of one with a dramatic and crucial golden-point field against the Warriors at
Southern Cross Group Stadium.
Maloney’s
87th minute matchwinner wobbled it’s way over the black dot to hand the Sharks a club-record equalling 11th straight win.
The thriller also reaffirmed the Sharks increasing mental fortitude and belief that they are premiership contenders as they rallied from
10-0 nil down on
the scoreboard, to overcome a vastly-improved
New Zealand outfit.
Alongside Origin teammates
Paul Gallen,
Jack Bird and
Andrew Fifita, Maloney managed to train with the Sharks for just over 30-minutes in their captain’s run on Friday.
But despite the limited preparation, Maloney showed class and poise to snatch a win that coach
Shane Flanagan as “brave” and “gutsy.’’
It was also the third match in a row that Maloney’s right boot proved the
difference.
“He’s kicking some goals, kicking some field goals and that’s what he gets paid for,’’
Flanagan said.
“I think there’s that belief (within the team) that they’re going to hang in there and we’ll get this.
“We’ve got
James with his field goal, but if not him (it’s the belief) that someone is going to do it for us, be it Val (
Holmes),
Andrew (Fifita), or someone else in the team will pull it out for us.
“And that’s what we did, we found a way.’’
The Sharks poor fifth tackle options hurt them early as the Warriors took advantage of field position and possession.
The home side had no right to lead 12-10 at the break, through tries to
Michael Ennis and
Ricky Leutele but as Flanagan said this Sharks side just seem to find a way.
“It wasn’t pretty, we didn’t execute well,’’ Flanagan said.
“It was just one of those nights that we had to fight and scrap.
“
Going hard in those battles and coming out on the right side and getting the win, gives the player’s confidence.’’
Warriors coach
Andrew McFadden lamented a controversial penalty try awarded to Cronulla forward
Jason Buukuya, which allowed the Sharks to kick out to an 18-10 lead — but refused to concede it cost his side the match.
“To me that looks like a bit of media pressure, by the looks of it,’’ McFadden said.
Sharks winger
Valentine Holmes left the field in the second half with a hamstring injury and while not considered serious, is in doubt for Cronulla’s home clash with
Parramatta on Saturday where they will attempt to set a new record of 12 straight wins.
CRONULLA 19 (J
Bukuya M
Ennis R Leutele tries; J Maloney 3 goals,
J Maloney field goal) bt NZ WARRIORS 18 (B
Ayshford T Leuluai J Wright tries; I
Luke 3 goals) in golden-point extra time at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
Referee: Grant Atkins,
Matt Noyen. Crowd: 12,074.
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Cronulla Sharks,
New Zealand Warriors,
Ryan Hoffman,
Chad Townsend,
Ben Barba,Valentine Holmes,
Jonathan Wright,
Issac Luke,Ricky Leutele,Michael Ennis,Andrew McFadden,
James H. Maloney,
Thomas Leuluai,Grant Atkins,
Simon Mannering
- published: 25 Jun 2016
- views: 7