The result moves them up into sixth on the NRL ladder, amongst a logjam of six teams locked together on 26 points, behind both the Cowboys and Roosters and above the Storm, Bulldogs and ninth-placed Eels.
Coach Andrew McFadden did not shy away from his side's patchy performance but credited their tenacity to tough it out for a vital win.
"It was a pretty scrappy win but two points is two points at this time of year and we needed to win and although it was a scrappy win we'll take it," he said.
"We were excellent there in the first half, our kicking game was outstanding, we put a lot of pressure on the opposition and we scored points off the back of that. The second-half, it was only small things but we just didn't give ourselves an opportunity to compete."
The Sharks were already missing a host of big names and lost talismanic skipper Paul Gallen to a virus on the morning of the match. Wearing black armbands as a tribute to the late Alexander D'Aleo, a 23-year-old Sutherland Shire local tragically killed in Croatia last week, they put those set-backs aside to repel a fierce opening onslaught from the Warriors.
Effective set completions from both Townsend - also sporting a wristband paying homage to D'Aleo - and Sam Tomkins saw the hosts put together five consecutive sets before Laumape crossed out wide after six minutes. The Sharks fought their way downfield where Arona managed to ground a bouncing ball ingoal, but two more repeat sets from the Warriors allowed Laumape to run in his second. After enjoying 66 per cent of the ball and a five-one penalty count, it was no surprise when Manu Vatuvei extended their lead with a try out on the left wing.
An ugly lifting tackle from Sharks prop Sam Tagataese forced Nielsen from the park early in the second-half, and the Warriors confidence took a knock as lethargy and disorganisation crept in.
Jeff Robson's pinpoint cross-field kick found a leaping Feki for the Sharks second try but that was as close as they got.
"They're a team that push you all the way and they did that tonight," Mannering said.
"They scrambled really well and I thought a couple of times there they made clean breaks and our chase back was pretty good. Sammy did a great job at the back. With a couple of big plays there and guys working hard we got the two points. Pretty ugly but it still counts."
Warriors 16 (Ngani Laumape 2, Manu Vatuvei tries; Chad Townsend 2 from 4 goals)
Sharks 12 (Tinirau Arona, Sosaia Feki tries; Michael Gordon 2 goals)
