A double from captain Simon Mannering has helped the much-improved Warriors score a vital 44-22 NRL victory over South Sydney in Auckland.

Mannering scored two of the Warriors’ eight tries on Sunday as their halves James Maloney and Shaun Johnson took advantage of an error-ridden Rabbitohs performance.

The Warriors needed a victory after consecutive losses in Australia meant they had only won two of their first six matches.

They achieved the result they were after through controlling the ball much better than Souths, who travelled to New Zealand seeking a third consecutive win.

Dave Taylor and Andrew Everingham scored doubles for South Sydney but they were playing catch-up after falling 20-6 behind after 35 minutes.

Souths went in front early after Taylor pounced on an Adam Reynolds grubber but the Warriors fired off four tries, two from Johnson kicks and two from Maloney passes.

Everingham scored just before halftime and another Taylor try shortly after the break brought Souths back to 20-16.

But further tries to Mannering, Ben Henry, Ukuma Ta’ai and Krisnan Inu were too much for the visitors, who looked dangerous with the ball but committed too many errors.