"We were trying to throw a lot of shape at them and they were handling it pretty well," Mannering said. "Maybe that put us in a bit of frustration and [we] tried to push it a touch too much. When we looked best [we were] just being a lot more direct."
Coach Stephen Kearney was pleased with his side's tenacity and found positives in the efforts of returning hooker Issac Luke and left-wing Manu Vatuvei.
"We hung in there with enough courage in the back end of that game to get away so we are thankful for that," Kearney said.
"Both [Luke and Vatuvei] had really strong performances so that gives us a headache for next week, which is a good one [to have]."
Forwards Jason Taumalolo and Tohu Harris were also singled out for praise by the coach.
"There were some tremendous performances from some of young guys in the team.
"I thought Jason Taumalolo stood out in the second-half and Tohu Harris was really good so that's encouraging for us as a team."
Meanwhile, Samoa coach Matt Parish was left seething over the appointment and performance of New Zealand referee Henry Perenara, who was also the video referee in their first-up loss to England.
Parish questioned the legitimacy of a lopsided second-half penalty count and was adamant his team did not receive a fair rub of the green.
"Today we led all but [at] the end and got penalised 6-2 in the second-half in a tough game.
"Last week, there were three video decisions that went against us [which] cost us 14 points," Parish said.
"Ben Roberts [does] a kick and the bloke, Adam Blair, was taking kickers out left, right and centre all day. So Frank [Pritchard] pushed him and they come back and give them a penalty. That's a game-changer.
"I have got a whole squad of shattered blokes down there, what do you say to them? Do you think they could do any more than they did today?"
Watson tweet quickly denied
A tweet from Warriors co-owner Eric Watson welcoming the signing of Kieran Foran sent fans and media into a spin yesterday before the businessman set the record straight.
Foran, who featured in the Kiwis' 14-12 win over Samoa on Saturday afternoon at Toll Stadium in Whangarei, has been identified as a likely target for the Warriors for 2016, with his Manly contract finishing at the end of next season.
"Gt signing for @NZWarriors with Kieran Foran - exciting player. Gt game yday against Samoa Welcome to the Warriors family #WarriorsForever," read the initial tweet, which appeared on Watson's account late yesterday afternoon.
That was quickly followed by a second tweet from Watson, apologising to fans for raising their hopes.
"I definitely need to lay off the Halloween punch sorry to cause such a stir.
"Kieran Foran is on our wish list but not signed. Apologies fans," he said.
The Warriors' director of football was quick to deny the club had signed the 24-year-old and suggested Watson's account may have been hacked.
"No, that is incorrect, take it from me," Dean Bell said.
"I think someone may have hacked his account or something."
Foran was unavailable for comment but Kiwis management also denied the signing rumour on his behalf.
