Stand-in Warriors skipper Blake Green only needed one word to describe how good it was to have his halves partner back from injury.

"Fantastic," Green said of Shaun Johnson's return from an ankle injury after more than a month on the sidelines.

The star halfback was electric in the Warriors' 34-14 victory over Manly at AMI Stadium on Saturday evening and Green said Johnson was a major part of his side's motivation.

"We had something to play for tonight with Shaun's 150th game. Big occasion for him, he's contributed so much to the club," Green said.

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The importance of Saturday night's win was clearly evident on Green's face post-match following the Warriors last-start 10-30 loss to the Rabbitohs.

"We've been a bit up and down over the last probably five weeks so it was important that we put together a good performance," Green said.

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Stand in Warriors captain Blake Green celebrates with Shaun Johnson.

Green was quick to praise his forwards who set the platform for Johnson to weave his magic.

"He (Johnson) was very good tonight but I thought our middles were very good, (they) laid a platform for him to do his thing," Green said.

James Gavet and Agnatius Paasi started it and interchange props Chris Satae and Bunty Afoa added impact off the bench. Issac Luke, Adam Blair and Simon Mannering locked down the middle of the field defensively.

"The boys did a good job there and created momentum for Bully (Luke) to do his stuff," Warriors coach Stephen Kearney said.

"I thought the guys came out tonight and put in a good performance," he said of his middle forwards.

Kearney also praised the work of powerful wingers Ken Maumalo and David Fusitu'a, who ensured most of the Warriors sets started with forward momentum.

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Issac Luke had a dominant game on attack and in defence for the Warriors.

"Both of those guys have done a tremendous job for us all season," Kearney said.

It was Manly's home game but the 17,357 strong Christchurch crowd were clearly behind the Warriors and Kearney said the Warriors players had made mention post game of how vocal the crowd was in their favour.

Kearney said last week's bye had given his side a chance to address some areas of concern. Defence was one of them and Kearney was impressed with the improvement - especially in the final few moments of the first half.

With the Warriors leading just 12-8 before the break, Luke dumped a dangerous Daly Cherry-Evans down to kill Manly's momentum.

"I thought Bully's (Luke) tackle on Cherry (Cherry-Evans) was a big play," Kearney said.

"When you're feeling good and things are going you're way that happens."

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Shaun Johnson scored a try in his 150th match for the Warriors.

Manly coach Trent Barrett was unsure of the exact diagnosis of star hooker Apisai Koroisau, who limped off early in the first half, but admitted: "it's not looking great".

"Possibly a broken foot or a lisfranc injury," a dejected Barrett said.

An extended time on the sidelines for Koroisau would be a massive loss for Manly.

Barrett praised the effort of Matthew Wright who played more than three-quarters of the match at hooker.

Barrett was unimpressed with the call to allow Luke's one-on-one strip that led to Tohu Harris' first-half try. He insisted there were two men in the tackle but Barrett did concede that ultimately it was his own side's mistakes that cost them the match.

The Warriors now face a quick turnaround with an away trip to take on the Cowboys in Townsville on Friday night and Manly face the Dragons on Saturday night.

 - Stuff