Shaun Johnson magic and Manu Vatuvei's try scoring records headline the Warriors' 20-16 win over the Sharks, in what was an otherwise positive day for the Cronulla club.
Report: Johnson seals miraculous Warriors win
Johnson gets Warriors back on the winner's board
As magical as they were important, two clutch plays from Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson saw the Warriors snap up a two-game losing streak.
In a week where Issac Luke confirmed he was to join the New Zealand side in 2016, Johnson kept the good news rolling after setting up Solomone Kata with seven minutes remaining before scoring the match-winner in the final 70 seconds, as Andrew Fifita looked to have won his team the game in the final three.
"I think with two minutes to go I had a much sadder face on me but I have been on the other side of that," Warriors coach Andrew McFadden said post-game.
"Two weeks ago we led for 78 minutes against Cowboys and were done on the bell so I'm just really proud of the boys. I thought we were the better team and I thought we deserved the points so I'm really happy for them."
Fifita books himself a State of Origin spot
Speaking of Fifita, surely the Cronulla man mountain has booked himself a spot in Laurie Daley's New South Wales team for Origin I on May 27.
Even without his scintillating try, where he broke through five Warriors defenders to score, Fifita remained one of the Sharks' best and backed it up with 223 metres and 37 tackles.
Fifita has definitely done enough to justify jagging a spot on the NSW interchange.
Manu keeps the try-scoring records coming
Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei claimed another try-scoring record with his try against Cronulla in the 30th minute.
Crossing the stripe for his 11th try in 10 games against the Sharks, Vatuvei entered the top 15 try-scorers in premiership history with his 142nd try, level with Brisbane legend Steve Renouf.
However in a negative for the barnstorming winger, Vatuvei failed to finish the game and is looking at a short stint on the sideline with a sternum injury.
"He's pretty sore at the moment. It takes a fair bit to get Manu off the field and it just goes to show how courageous he is to go back out there after halftime," McFadden said. "He knew the best thing was to stay off [not too long after] so I think he'll be out of action for a little while."
Otherwise, Sharks on fire!
While their first grade team were dealt a devastating hand against the Warriors, it was an otherwise very positive day for the club.
For the first time since 2009 when the Bulldogs achieved the feat, the Sharks were victorious in both the Harold Matthews under-16s and SG Ball under-18s grand finals.
In Harold Matthews, the Sharks beat the Parramatta Eels 30-16 while in SG Ball they edged out the South Sydney Rabbitohs 24-16.
Their Holden Cup team and NSW Cup feeder team Newtown sealed hard-earned victories too.
Four out of five ain't bad, right?
Chad Townsend impresses at old (and new?) home
While there has been much talk that he may be on his way back to the club which introduced him to the NRL, Warriors five-eighth Chad Townsend put forward a solid performance to come back and haunt his former club.
Having only played 19 games for the Sharks before his departure across the ditch in 2013, Townsend has been one of the bright lights for the Warriors over the past 24 months.
On Saturday, Townsend was a rock in defence with his 29 tackles and set up Vatuvei's try which certainly impressed his halves partner Johnson.
"I thought Chad had a really good game, he was running the footy and really taking it to them," Johnson said.
