Unfancied Manly has credited a tight defence for holding off a late surge to beat the Warriors on their home turf in an NRL game of dropped balls and first-round nerves.

The Sea Eagles always managed to keep the game out of reach for the Warriors in a 26-20 win at Auckland's Ericsson Stadium, scoring crucial tries in the second half when their opponents threatened to erase the deficit.

Two second-half tries by Scott Donald, including a 50-metre dash, sealed the match after the Warriors had got within two points of the Sea Eagles at 16-14 after trailing 12-2 during the break.

The Warriors got within a converted try of equalling in the dying stages but could not break through again in a match where they were outscored five tries to three.

"It was probably our defence that held us in there today," Manly coach Des Hasler said.

"To get over here and get the two points, particularly with the build-up - it was great," he said.

Hasler also credited a New Zealand newspaper article suggesting a Warriors win was crucial for their season's prospects as a motivator for the Sea Eagles.

"I can't believe the amount of pressure you put on the Warriors - you keep writing stories like that and the opposition team's will get motivation," he said.

After pressuring the line early, the Warriors scored first with a penalty goal but quickly fell behind and were always playing catch-up.

Coach Tony Kemp said more dropped balls in the humidity and home-team nerves were the differences between the sides.

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