LeagueNews.co | Nick Loken
The New Zealand Warriors suffered a frustrating 22-28 loss to Cronulla Sutherland in their Jersey Flegg Cup match at the Trusts Arena.
The Warriors started strong, scoring four tries in the first 23 minutes to take a 22-4 lead into halftime.
However, their performance in the second half mirrored previous games where they struggled to maintain their early lead.
This pattern of surrendering leads after strong starts was evident in their matches against the Roosters and Wests Tigers.
Despite conceding an early try to the Sharks, the Warriors dominated play for the next 20 minutes before Cronulla made a comeback, scoring a crucial try seven minutes before fulltime.
This late surge secured a six-point win for the Sharks, leaving the Warriors disappointed and extending their pattern of faltering after strong starts.
The loss placed Cronulla fourth on the ladder, while the Warriors were left to ponder their inability to capitalize on early leads.