RUGBY LEAGUE
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Warilla's late-season surge gathered steam with Saturday's 66-6 rout of Port Kembla at Noel Mulligan Oval.
The Gorillas were all business from start to finish, carving out a 30-0 half-time lead before posting six more tries in the second half against the injury-plagued Blacks.
"Our attitude was real good today," Warilla coach Peter Hooper said.
"A couple of things went against us when we had tries disallowed but we just got on with the job. There was no arguing with one another and no issues with the referee."
Grand finalists the past two years, the Gorillas were in danger of slipping out of top five contention after a poor start to the season.
The return of key players over the past month or so has coincided with an ascension up the competition ladder and Warilla's record now stands at 7-7 after 14 rounds.
"We didn't start the season so great, which was no surprise given the massive turnover of players in the off-season," Hooper said.
"We've slowly got better week by week and we're getting that consistency."
Shellharbour and Gerringong rank as equal favourites for the premiership, while reigning champions Nowra-Bomaderry are a shade behind.
While the Gorillas' revival has them on track to clinch a finals berth, it remains to be seen if they can defy the odds and win a title from fourth or fifth spot.
"We control our own destiny and know that we'll be in there if we win our last four games," Hooper said.
"Nowra is the only team in front of us that we have to play in the run to the finals, so we're just looking to gradually keep building week in week out.
"We haven't got the flamboyance we used to have and we haven't got the same depth, but we're certainly improving as a team. We expect certain things from ourselves and we know if we fall down in certain areas we don't win games."
Teenager Jake Kinzet had a day to remember against the Blacks, racking up four of his team's 12 tries, while Chad Lisch finished with a personal haul of 22 points from a try and nine goals.
The home team never stopped trying and were rewarded with backrower Kane Sturmey's try in the dying moments.
Shellharbour centre Kurt Field scored two of his team's six tries, as the Sharks kept their unbeaten record intact with a 34-30 road win over Jamberoo.
Rixon Russell crossed for four tries in Gerringong's 70-18 roasting of Albion Park-Oak Flats, while Joel Roberts finished with 30 points from two tries and 11 goals.
Kiama stayed in the hunt for a top three finish with Sunday's 26-20 home win over Nowra-Bomaderry and Milton-Ulladulla beat Berry 28-24 at Mollymook Oval.
Ladder: Shellharbour 27, Gerringong 25, Nowra 18, Kiama 16, Warilla 14 , Berry, Jamberoo 10, Albion Park, Milton 8, Port Kembla 4