Manu Vatuvei celebrates after scoring a try for the Warriors against the Wests Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium.

Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei has been "overwhelmed" with support as he celebrated his 200th match with two tries, and a tick in winning margin for his team.

The Warriors bet the West Tigers 32-22 at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on a night that was about one man - Vatuvei.

In scoring two tries Vatuvei drew level with Nigel Vagana's 140 try record for a New Zealander in the NRL.

The crowd of 13,781 stood and applauded as Vatuvei walked on to the turf with two of his daughters at the start of the match. The night before he had been presented with his 200-game jersey by his father during a special team dinner.

After the match All Black legend Jonah Lomu presented Vatuvei with a photo to commemorate the match.

Vatuvei becomes just the third player to appear in 200 games for the Warriors, joining Stacey Jones (261 games) and captain Simon Mannering (217).

Mannering also scored two tries in his 200th match.

It was a see-saw game with the Warriors scoring six tries to the Tigers four.

The Warriors were brilliant in patches and then error ridden in others. They played their best footy for a nine-minute period in the first half when they scored 16 points but aside from that there was individual brilliance but not often a cohesive effort.

The Warriors won by running clever lines against tiring defence and by showing composure when the Tigers were running at them in the second half.

Warriors coach Andrew McFadden said his team had made it hard for themselves, "but there was still a lot to like".

"We obviously dominated possession and had our fair share of field position we just couldn't get that killer blow. They defended well and we just lost our way when those errors crept in at the wrong time."

McFadden said the amount of support shown to Vatuvei from around New Zealand had been "overwhelming".

"I have been overwhelmed and surprised about how much Manu really means here. I knew how much he meant internally but across New Zealand the support he has got this week has been huge. It shows how much respect he has."

Captain Simon Mannering said a win was the best way to show the team's gratitude.

"I'm sure with Manu he wanted us to concentrate on getting the result but it was a special occasion for him. He's so much about this club and team that it wouldn't have been fair if we didn't get a result tonight."

Tigers coach Jason Taylor said his team had been tested by a big, strong Warriors outfit.

"There was a little period before halftime that we didn't handle but across the course of the game the guys did really well. I was really impressed with the way they fought back and never gave up.

"We are very disappointed."

The Tigers scored first with a try in the fifth minute. Captain Robbie Farah ran through lazy Warriors defence and a massive looping pass saw Tim Simona staring at a wide open space and able to cross for a try with relative ease.

It took the while for the Warriors to bounce back, but when they did it was through the right man - Mt Smart Stadium erupted when Vatuvei scored in the 17th minute.

It was Konrad Hurrell who started the movement in the middle of the field but it was a classic Vatuvei try - a leap in the air and then a dive in the corner, in the tackle of a couple of defenders, to score.

The Warriors then proceeded to score three quick tries to change the shape of the game.

The first to Chad Townsend in the 21st minute when he danced through defenders to score under the posts - his second for the year.

Konrad Hurrell set up the next, busting through the Tigers defensive line and sprinting about 30 metres before linking with Lolohea who hustled over.

Shaun Johnson got his first try of the year, with 10 minutes to go in the half - set up by an offload and then second hit up from Sam Lisone, some quick work from Townsend and Johnson was able to beat Simona for pace on the right wing.

The Tigers weren't out of it yet though. They had been starved of ball but when they got it James Tedesco got the better of Townsend and he ran over for a try.

The Warriors went to the sheds ahead by 20-12.

The start of the second half was sloppy by the Warriors and errant by the Tigers but it was the men from Australia who again scored first, and again through Simona, who put in two massive fends to score and the difference was back to two.

Vatuvei's second try came from a looping pass from Kata to score in the left corner.

An eight-point gap didn't last for long though with Pat Richards dotting down in the left corner. He failed to convert his own try.

The match sealing try for the Warriors came with three minutes to go through Bodene Thompson - his first try for the Warriors.

The Warriors play the Cowboys in Townsville next weekend.

AT A GLANCE

Warriors 32 (Tries: M. Vatuvei 2, C. Townsend, T. Lolohea, S. Johnson, B. Thompson. Conversions: S. Johnson 4) Tigers 22 (Tries: T. Simona 2, J. Tedesco, P. Richards. Conversions: P. Richards 3) HT: 20-12