Canberra has defeated the fifth-placed Manly 30-16 at Brookvale Oval, a result that keeps the Raiders within striking distance of the top eight.
With their season threatening to slip away, the Raiders held on for their sixth win of the season to move to ninth place on the ladder ahead of the completion of round 17.
Halfback Sam Williams scored two tries for the the Raiders, who were missing Jack Wighton and Josh Papalii through State of Origin duty.
Manly was without the Trbojevic brothers and Daly Cherry-Evans. Their absence was noticeable in the home side's uninspiring performance.
The Sea Eagles remain 39 points per match worse off without Tom Trbojevic in 2021.
After the Sea Eagles scored 114 points in their previous 120 minutes of football, they could cross the line just once in the opening 20 minutes with all the ball against the Raiders.
Canberra forced seven line drop-outs in the 30-minute period around half-time, as Manly had just six attacking sets in that period.
Both of Williams's tries came through the weight of possession he created, his first giving the Raiders a 12-4 lead through the middle after Tom Starling opened their scoring with a 20-metre sprint out of dummy half.
Williams also got the Raiders' next try after half-time, forcing his way through three defenders to score under the posts.
The Raiders' fourth try came in comical circumstances when Moses Suli turned his back to a kick and the ball rebounded off his head into the in-goal for Sebastian Kris to score.
There would have been some scares sent through the Raiders camp when Sea Eagles pair Haumole Olakau'atu and Suli crossed for tries to make it 24-16 with eight minutes to play.
But Emre Guler scored the Raiders' fifth try in the 74th minute to seal the win for the visitors.
The loss could be costly for Manly's top-four pursuit.
They will finish the round six points behind fourth-placed Parramatta, while the Sydney Roosters can also leapfrog them on the ladder with a win over Canterbury on Saturday.
AAP
