As it happened: Depleted Manly Sea Eagles claim impressive victory over out-of-sorts Canberra Raiders

That just about wraps up our coverage of this NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the Manly Sea Eagles.

We have coverage of the next matchup of the day between the Cronulla Sharks and Canterbury Bulldogs to come so do stay tuned for that but until then, I've been Tom Young, goodbye!

The Raiders will look to bounce back from defeat today when they come up against the high flying Parramatta Eels in Round Eight.

For the Sea Eagles it's a meeting with the struggling Cronulla Sharks. They'll be sweating over the fitness of Dylan Walker and Tom Trbojevic ahead of that one.

The referee blows for full-time to wrap up a HUGE win for the Manly Sea Eagles.

Manly lost Dylan Walker and Brad Parker to injury early in the contest but bounced back to take a 12-0 lead into the sheds.

The Raiders got back into the game in the second half before the Sea Eagles lost Tom Trbojevic to injury with 20 minutes to go.

But the Sea Eagles soon extended their lead via the boot of Reuben Garrick and held on for a very impressive victory against the pre-season favourites as they climb to seventh on the NRL Ladder.

Raiders keep Manly out but once again will start their set on their own line.

It would take a miracle for the Raiders to win from here.

The clock continues to tick down as the Raiders put the ball to ground AGAIN.

Manly head and feed 40 metres out. 

That won't help!

Havili knocks on on the second and hands Manly the ball straight back!

The Raiders keep Manly out but they'll be starting this set on their goalline.

Just six minutes left, they need something special here.

 

Rapana loses the ball on the kick return again and he won't get away with it this time.

Manly possession 40 metres out.

The referee sent it up as a try which seemed strange as he never looked to have stayed in touch.

The Bunker quickly overturns the call.

 

Rapana thinks he's scored as he gets over in the corner but it's an absolutely tremendous effort from Curtis Sironen who flies over to put the Canberra winger into touch.

The Bunker will check to see if he got there in time.

Just over ten minutes to go here as the Raiders are awarded a scrum on ten metres out as Garrick puts the ball to ground.

A score here would be massive.

But again it's another mistake for Canberra as Hudson Young puts the ball to ground.

Sea Eagles head and feed on their own 20.

The Raiders get a set restart on the 40 and will have a good look at the Manly line.

Jordan Rapana is a lucky man as he loses the ball on his own 10. 

The referee deems it went backwards and the Raiders will keep possession. Looked forward to me...

The TMO overturns the onfield call of a try, deeming that the Raiders captain lost the ball as he hit the ground.

The Sea Eagles survive, for now at least.

What a score this could be.

Williams bombs a high kick over towards the sticks and Croker gets up between the Manly defence to claim the ball and touch down over the line.

The Bunker will have a look at it. He looks to have lost this as he hit the turf though...

Cherry-Evans attempts the grubber on the fourth but it's slightly too heavy and the Raiders will have a seven-tackle set here.

A 91% set completion rate for the Sea Eagles so far tonight.

It has been a very impressive performance from Manly, arguably their best of the season so far given their injuries tonight.

Big ten minutes coming up for both sides here as Manly get another penalty for a high shot by Jack Wighton.

The next score in this one is absolutely crucial for both sides.

Garrick is successful with the penalty from straight in front.

Manly make it a two-score game as they lead by eight with 24 minutes remaining here.

Penalty Manly.

They'll opt for the two. A smart decision in the circumstances.

It doesn't look good for Tom Trbojevic as the Sky cameras pan to footage of him hobbling into the Manly changing rooms.

He's been in such good form since the return as well. 

Six to go for the Sea Eagles as they get a set restart in the Raiders 10.

A score here would be huge for the depleted Sea Eagles.

Big issues for the Sea Eagles here as Tom Trbojevic goes down clutching his left hamstring.

He struggled with that hamstring prior to lockdown but had been running okay since the return. 

He makes his way off the pitch and the Sea Eagles are down to just one fit interchange.

Will that be the try that opens the floodgates for the Raiders?

They've been far below their best tonight but they are back within a score.

Jarrod Croker nails the extras from bang in front to bring the Raiders to within a score.

Raiders 6-12 Sea Eagles.

The Raiders do finally get the breakthrough!

It was a simple score as Josh Hodgson fired the play the ball to Wighton and he found the run of Elliott Whitehead who stepped through the gap in the Manly defence to touch down under the sticks.

Kick-to-come

The Raiders have seen more of the ball in the opening exchanges of this second period but again they seem to be lacking that little bit extra when they find themselves in the Manly 20.
 

We're back underway here as the Raiders take the first possession of the half.

Will the Raiders turn this one around? Or will it be a second defeat of the season for the pre-season favourites.

The Manly Sea Eagles take a 12 point lead into the sheds courtesy of scores from Tom Trbojevic and Tevita Funa.

It's been a poor showing from the Canberra Raiders in the first 40 and they'll have to improve significantly in the second period if they are to get back into this one!

No one pointer but almost four!

Josh Hodgson JUST gets to the Cherry-Evans high kick before the onrushing Tom Trbojevic.

The half-time siren sounds with Manly in control here.

The Sea Eagles get a set restart on half-way with 60 seconds to go until half-time.

One pointer on the cards maybe?

Reuben Garrick has brought his kicking boots with him tonight! He nails a touchline conversion to give the Sea Eagles a 12-point lead as we edge towards half-time.

And what a decision that proved to be.

Tommy Turbo feeds the ball to Tevita Funa and the big winger steps inside Cotric to crash over for the second try of the game for the Sea Eagles.

Kick-to-come.

They instead opt to run it.

They'll take possession ten metres from the line.

Curtis Scott scoops up the loose ball and looks to be away but the referee blows up for a Manly penalty for what he deems to be interferance without the ball.

The Sea Eagles may opt for two here.

Little over five minutes to go until half-time here and it's the Sea Eagles who lead as they get another penalty. This time for a two-on-one strip in the tackle.

It's been a very underwhelming performance from Canberra so far but all credit to the Sea Eagles who have defended very well.

No, they can't!

Cherry Evans forces the mistake from Emre Guler who spills the ball close to the line.

The Raiders get back-to-back sets on the Manly line after a set restart is quickly followed up by a penalty for offside.

Can they finally turn position into points?

But again the Sea Eagles are equal to the test.

Their defence has looked very strong tonight but with just two men on the interchange bench, you question how long they will be able to keep that up.

For now, they lead by six with 25 minutes on the clock.

Another good look for the Raiders here as Lachlan Croker throws his pass forward to give the hosts a scrum down on the 40.

It's been a very impressive display by the Sea Eagles so far who let's not forget, lost both Dylan Walker and Brad Parker early in this contest.

Great defence from the Raiders who keep the Sea Eagles at bay after a threatening attacking set from the visitors.

But the Raiders respond with a knock-on of their own as Jack Wighton puts the ball to ground on the first play of the set.

That score will be a bitter pill to swallow for the Raiders who had just started to get the upper hand in this one.

Although they will have a chance to hit straight back as the Sea Eagles put the ball to ground on their 40.

Rebeun Garrick has kicked just 57% from the tee so far this season but he makes no mistake with his opening two-pointer in this one.

The Sea Eagles lead by six early in Sydney!

And it is!

Tommy Turbo gets the opening score of the night.

Kick to come.

The Sea Eagles look to have opened the scoring here and who else than Tom Trobojevic!

He throws the dummy down the right-hand side and splits the Raiders defence. Curtis Scott attempts to halt his run but the Manly fullback has far too much power and gets his way over to touch down.

The TMO will check for obstruction but this will be given.

Huge chance for the Raiders to get in for the opener as they run the ball down the left-hand side but the chance goes begging as Jordan Rapana puts the ball to ground.

The Canberra outfit then give away a penalty to relieve some pressure on the Sea Eagles.

A first set in the Manly 20 for the Raiders after Funa fumbles the high ball.

Lachlan Croker is down for the Sea Eagles now.

A first look at the line almost provides the first points of the game for the Raiders but Soliola can't quite get over as the Manly defence wrap up the big forward.

It's been a high-intensity start to this one as the Canberra Raiders take possession and are awarded the first set restart of the night on the half-way line.

And now there's a problem for Brad Parker who loses his footing and gets absolutely clattered by Iosia Soliola.

His head hit the ground pretty hard there, it'll be tough for the centre to carry on in this one.

There's an early problem for the Sea Eagles as Dylan Walker hobbles off after landing funny in the tackle.

The visitors will be hoping he'll be able to get back out on the field.

The Sea Eagles will get the first look at the Raiders line as they force a knock-on on the 40.

Manly will take the first possession of the ball as we get underway here.

Just five minutes to go until kick-off here so go and grab yourself a cup of tea/coffee and get ready for this highly anticipated clash!

Do not miss a detail of the match with the live updates and commentaries of VAVEL. Follow along with us all the details, commentaries, analysis and lineups for this NRL clash between the Canberra Raiders and the Manly Sea Eagles.

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Manly head coach Des Hasler has also finalised his team ahead of this one: 

1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Tevita Funa. 3 Brad Parker, 4 Brendan Elliot, 5 Reuben Garrick, 6 Dylan Walker, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c)

8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Danny Levi, 16 Sean Keppie, 11 Joel Thompson, 12 Curtis Sironen, 13 Jake Trbojevic

14 Lachlan Croker, 15 Jack Gosiewski, 10 Taniela Paseka, 17 Morgan Boyle

The late mail is out as Ricky Stuart names his 17 ahead of this clash:

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Jordan Rapana, 3. Jarrod Croker (C), 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams. 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (C),10. Sia Soliola, 11. Joe Tapine, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Siliva Havili, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Ryan Sutton, 17. Hudson Young

Manly will be looking to build on last weeks narrow win over the Brisbane Broncos as their tricky run of fixtures continues.

With more favourable fixtures against the likes of the Cronulla Sharks and St George Illawarra Dragons to come in the coming weeks, the Sea Eagles know that a win here would be crucial to cementing a place in the top six.

Canberra will have the opportunity to move to the top of the NRL Ladder with a win today after the Sydney Roosters inflicted a first defeat of the NRL campaign on the Parramatta Eels yesterday.

It won't be simple though, as they'll need to win by 29+ points in order to leapfrog the early pacesetters. But if anyone can, it would be the pre-season favourites!

This match between the Canberra Raiders and Manly Sea Eagles will be played at the Campbelltown Stadium in Sydney, Australia The kick-off is scheduled for 7:05am BST.

Welcome to VAVEL.com’s LIVE coverage of the 2020 NRL match: Canberra Raiders vs Manly Sea Eagles My name is Tom Young and I’ll be your host for this game. We will provide you with pre-game analysis, roster updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.