Shaun Johnson added to his growing reputation as one of the NRL's premier halfbacks after twice producing big plays in the final eight minutes to give New Zealand a thrilling 20-16 NRL win over Cronulla.
Johnson set up Solomone Kata before scoring the match-winner as the Warriors twice came from behind at the death to steal one of the season's most memorable games at Shark Park on Saturday night.
In a wild final stanza, the lead changed hands three times before last year's Golden Boot winner sent the 13,998-strong crowd home bitterly disappointed.
First, it appeared the Warriors had wrapped it up when Johnson put in a deft kick for Kata, who minutes earlier had dropped it over the line.
Four minutes later Andrew Fifita appeared to have sealed the victory when he barged over five New Zealand defenders.
However there was one twist left as the Warriors were gifted prime field position when Ryan Hoffman charged down a Jeff Robson kick.
The next play Johnson took on a rushing defensive line, slicing through to win the game for his team with 70 seconds left on the clock.
"I don't think anyone can do those things for 80 minutes, that stuff (Johnson) does," Warriors coach Andrew McFadden said.
"His main job is to get the team around the park and do the solid things. We're trying to build a solid performance in him.
"I thought he did that. I thought his kicking game was fair for most of the game.
"It's those moments when he's got to stand up and he came up with something special tonight."
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan described the result as "heart-breaking".
"You put yourself in a position to win the game ... Our two junior rep teams won the grand final today. I would have been critical of them if they didn't win it with a minute 10 on the clock. It shouldn't happen in first grade.
"I don't know what happened. It was a brainsnap from Robbo (Robson). He's the most consistent player in our club and he's won us some footy games. He's disappointed that it was around him."
Cronulla backrower Anthony Tupou was taken to hospital with a broken jaw after he was injured in an attempted tackle on Warriors centre Konrad Hurrell.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said Tupou was in a bad way and he was concerned for his well being.
Hurrell appeared to lift his knees and was put on report for the incident however McFadden labelled it an accident.
The Warriors also have their injury concerns after talismanic winger Manu Vatuvei left the field midway through the second half with a sternum injury. He is expected to be out for several weeks.
It was a bittersweet night for "The Beast", with his four-pointer in the first half taking him to 15th on the all-time leading try-scorers list, equal with Brisbane great Steve Renouf on 142 tries.
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