The Sharks look to continue their momentum against a hurting New Zealand Warriors side at Ocean Protect Stadium in Round 4 of the 2026 NRL this Sunday.<\/p>\n
New Zealand come into this clash with three wins from four, but their form couldn\u2019t be more different to the mid-table Sharks.<\/p>\n
Last round, Cronulla recorded their second win of the season in emphatic style, putting away the Raiders 34-22 in Canberra. The Warriors, on the other hand, were humbled by the Tigers 32-14 in front of a packed Go Media Stadium.<\/p>\n
This is shaping as an early test of each team\u2019s title credentials. Can the Warriors bounce back and prove they\u2019re genuine contenders, or will Cronulla earn their first back-to-back wins of 2026?<\/p>\n
Expect a Warriors bounce back here. The Kiwis looked brilliant across the first three rounds, scoring 120 points and comfortably putting away the Roosters, Raiders and Knights.<\/p>\n
Last week was a speed bump, but this group has been known to crack under pressure at times.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s none of that heading to Cronulla though, where the home side are firm favourites and expected to win easily.<\/p>\n
That loss to the Tigers should put a fire in the Warriors\u2019 belly, so we should see more of their early season form in this clash.<\/p>\n
If the Warriors turn up on Sunday as expected, they\u2019ll likely score the bulk of the 47.5 points required to clear this line.<\/p>\n
But the Kiwis had some defensive issues against the Tigers, and the Sharks have scored 30+ points twice already this season, so don\u2019t be surprised if both teams cross for multiple tries.<\/p>\n
Halasima has scored in every Warriors win so far this season, bagging four tries across the opening month of the competition.<\/p>\n
The big forward looks hungry for the ball in 2026. With his leg drive, reach and strong aerial ability, he\u2019s a threat to score any time New Zealand get inside the Sharks\u2019 20.<\/p>\n
It also helps that Tanner Boyd\u2019s kicking game and Luke Metcalf\u2019s distribution favour the left side, meaning Halasima gets more opportunities than you\u2019d usually expect for a second rower.<\/p>\n