Plenty hangs on the One New Zealand Warriors’ eighth-round Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) clash against Cronulla Sutherland at Pukekohe’s Navigation Homes Stadium on Sunday (11.15am kick-off).
With their 26-10 win over the Raiders last Sunday, they climbed into finals contention moving up to sixth – the top six qualify for the playoffs – with two regular season matches to go in the short-form competition.
After the Sharks this week, the Warriors' final game is against St George Illawarra.
On form, Cronulla poses the biggest challenge they have faced since the opening two rounds when they lost to top four sides Parramatta and the Sydney Roosters.
Match: Warriors v Sharks
Round 8 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Sharks
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Joseph RatcliffeFullback for Sharks is number 1 Oliver Lester
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Jeremiah LemanaWinger for Sharks is number 2 Jyarah DELANEY
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Torbein BeauvaisCentre for Sharks is number 3 Isaac Dawson
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Siale PahuluCentre for Sharks is number 4 Elijah Cooper
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Kairus BoothWinger for Sharks is number 5 Jaylan Herron
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Jack ThompsonFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Callum Grantham
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Deshontayne Te WaoHalfback for Sharks is number 7 Jack Schumacher
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Hudsyn FrostProp for Sharks is number 8 Hemi Blackburn-Kingi
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Hooker for Warriors is number 14 Boston KroneHooker for Sharks is number 9 Jack Ennis
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Micah SulaProp for Sharks is number 10 Natane Haunga
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Dezman Laban2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Kaden Garner
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Militonimolela Sikuvea2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Blake Watman
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Romana WhitioraLock for Sharks is number 13 Thomas Dellow
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 9 Kaawyn PattersonInterchange for Sharks is number 15 Thomas Stepic
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Isaiah SaveaInterchange for Sharks is number 16 Cruz Parkin
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Tyson HANSENInterchange for Sharks is number 17 Vakapuna Mataele
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Ambrose pulunoInterchange for Sharks is number 22 Spencer Swann
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Horouta DavidsonReplacement for Sharks is number 14 Liam CHALLENOR
Last updated:
They then rebounded with four straight wins over South Sydney, Balmain, Illawarra and Canberra but those four sides are in the bottom four on the ladder as it stands now.
The Sharks, on the other hand, are level on 10 points with the One New Zealand Warriors but placed fifth on points for and against.
They’re coming into the match after a bye last weekend following their second loss of the season – 12-48 to the second-placed Bulldogs – on March 9.
So it’s all to play for on Sunday if the One New Zealand Warriors are to stay in the hunt in their debut season in the competition.
