Billed as the clash of the giants, it was mighty mouse who stole the show with departing halfback Trent Hodkinson producing another showstopper to revive Manly's NRL premiership campaign with a 19-16 win over the Warriors on Saturday night.

Snared by Canterbury for 2011 after the Sea Eagles failed to come up with a competitive offer, Hodkinson gave Manly officials more food for thought with his field goal with four minutes left breaking the deadlock.

Much like the election battle which Manly local Tony Abbott was stuck in the middle of, this was not a clash for the ages, the rugged contest containing five lead changes until Hodkinson struck, just as he did with his two one-pointers against South Sydney in June.

"I put my hand up, I was quite happy to give it a shot," Hodkinson said of the kick which clipped Sam Rapira's hand on its journey.

"Luckily, it got the deflection and went over."

Asked about his impending move, Hodkinson said his focus remained at Brookvale.

"I'm just keen to rip in for the Sea Eagles for the remainder of the year and go as far as we can," he said.

The win certainly gave those chances a boost, with the Sea Eagles leapfrogging the Warriors and Sydney Roosters into fifth spot.

"We just had to win tonight, that's put it in perspective just where this game was," Manly coach Des Hasler said.

"That first half ... it was probably the worst half of completions that we've put together this year, but we found a way, the boys dug deep when they had to defend their tryline and we came up with the points."

Asked about a top-four finish and a home final, Hasler said: "We weren't really thinking about the top four, we were just thinking about winning games of football.

"It's pretty hard trying to work out what the equation's going to be, but it's a lot easier when you're winning games of football."

That task could be made harder after Manly's back row was decimated with Shane Rodney (knee) and Anthony Watmough (ankle) both doubtful starters next week.

Their woes had nothing on Warriors lock Micheal Luck, who was taken by ambulance to hospital with what was later described as an 18cm laceration from a stray stud, the wound forcing players and officials to turn away.

"It was a pretty big slash - hopefully he's going to be alright," fullback Lance Hohaia said.

"I'm sure he's going to be a bit queasy after that.

"It's not something that you like to see ... there was a lot of blood."

Manly giant Tony Williams won his battle of the hulking wingers with Manu Vatuvei, 'T-Rex' scoring a double either side of the halftime break with both set up by sweet Glenn Stewart offloads.

Stewart had some ground to make up after his soft defence had allowed Simon Mannering to score just before halftime for a 14-10 lead to the Warriors at the break.

A Warriors penalty, then Williams' second, locked it up with 33 minutes remaining, James Maloney and Trent Hodkinson both missing field goal attempts before the latter's successful strike.

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