Raiders 18 Sea Eagles 31

MANLY displayed the same level of determination that took them to last year's grand final when they courageously beat Canberra on their home turf despite having replacement forward Adam Cuthbertson sent off in the 31st minute of last night's game.

Cuthbertson became the fourth player sent off this year - after Cronulla's Ben Ross, Melbourne's Brett White and Canberra's Michael Weyman - for a high tackle on Canberra replacement prop Troy Thompson. Thompson was left prone on the turf and was replaced when he finally got to his feet, after treatment. Thompson returned to the game midway through the second half.

It was a tremendous defensive effort from Manly, who led 10-0 when Cuthbertson was dismissed and got to 18-0 before Canberra made a fightback. The Raiders cut the deficit to six points midway through the second half, but the Sea Eagles responded tremendously to win.

The early signs weren't good for the Raiders, with too many turnovers, and Manly quickly got into gear. The feared kicking game of the Sea Eagles brought the desired result in the ninth minute, when winger Michael Robertson caught a shallow bomb from halfback Matt Orford in the corner and came down to get the ball over the line in a tackle.

The Raiders again made it difficult for themselves, in the 19th minute, when they were pulled up for a forward pass 28m off their own line. The ensuing set did not bring a try to Manly, but a pin-point Orford kick forced another repeat set and the Sea Eagles struck this time.

Again it was an accurate Orford kick that put Canberra under pressure, his bomb coming down on the try line and Manly fullback Brett Stewart rising to tap the ball back to Matt Ballin, who burrowed over the line. Orford converted for a 10-0 lead.

Even with their one-man advantage after Cuthbertson went, the Raiders couldn't score, and the next time Manly got down the other end of the field and were awarded a penalty, Orford sensibly took a shot at goal. He was successful, pushing the lead to 12-0.

Canberra came close to scoring two minutes before half-time, when a grubber kick from hooker Alan Tongue was initially fumbled by Robertson on the line before Tongue got his hand on the ball over the line. But referee Sean Hampstead sent it to video referee Paul Simpkins for a decision and replays showed Robertson grounded the ball in-goal, just ahead of Tongue.

The Raiders went to the break 12 points down, but with hope of a comeback if they could just hang on to the ball. But the second half began with a continuation of the first-half theme, and Canberra bombing a glorious opportunity to score.

Winger David Milne broke into the clear down the right-hand side and as the defence came across he chipped ahead for fullback Bronx Goodwin. The ball fell perfectly for Goodwin, but as he tried to catch it with the line wide open he knocked it on.

Canberra bombed another opportunity with a high-risk pass that resulted in a knock-on barely one metre out from Manly's line in the 50th minute, and two minutes later Manly sat the Raiders on their backsides when second-rower Anthony Watmough stormed through the centre of the ruck to score a soft try. The Raiders looked as though they were the team that was a man down.

Manly winger David Williams raced away for a 56th-minute try that would have finished the Raiders off, had it been allowed, but it was disallowed because of an obstruction and barely 60 seconds later the Raiders finally got on the board through a try from winger Colin Best. Carney landed a great conversion from out wide and then scored a try himself, in the 63rd minute. Carney's conversion cut Manly's lead to 18-12. Finally, it was game on - but not for long. Manly came back to put the Raiders away for good.

MANLY 31 (M Robertson M Ballin A Watmough S Matai S Menzies tries M Orford 5 goals, field goal) bt CANBERRA 18 (C Best T Carney T Thurling tries T Carney 3 goals) at Canberra Stadium. Referee: S Hampstead. Crowd: 13,120.