Canberra Raiders new halves pairing 'wonderful' in defeat of Manly Sea Eagles

As Canberra's greatest-ever halfback, playmakers can find Stuart hard to please, but there was no doubting the pair's huge influence on the game.

Austin told the media midweek he "needed to give the team more" and he backed his talk with action, scoring a first-half try and setting up another to help the Raiders build a 23-4 lead at the break.

But what Stuart was most impressed with was his desperate defence.

Twice the Wests Tigers recruit stopped Manly's Cheyse Blair from scoring, and declined to talk to the media afterward after copping a head knock in one of them.

The kicking game and management of Williams was so good he looked like he had never left the Raiders in 2013.

Forced to head to Super League after being offloaded by St George Illawarra last year, Williams proved he still has plenty to offer the NRL.

He was drafted in this week in place of Mitch Cornish and he fully justified Stuart's decision.

"He was wonderful," Stuart said. "He was so important to the team today in what he delivered. He gave us a lot of direction and his kicking game was outstanding.

"Like anything, if you've got a good kicking game, you're very much on the front foot and putting pressure on the opposition. That first half was a credit to Sammy for doing that for us."

Austin was involved in everything in easily his best game for Canberra.

His tenacity in defence was contagious and helped the Raiders pile on 29 unanswered points after conceding a soft try to Manly winger Tom Trbojevic, who scored twice on debut.

"He put himself out there [in the media], which I like about Blake," Stuart said.

"What I liked about Blake was his defence, it was tough.

"We all know he's a good attacker. We've been working hard on his defence and he aimed up."

The Raiders have been woeful in attack, losing their past three games, and had lost their previous five games against Manly. 

It looked the same old story early when Trbojevic strolled over untouched but from there it was all Canberra, who secured its second win of the season. 

Last year it was Manly who embarrassed the Raiders, piling on 42 unanswered points in the first half hour in a 54-18 loss. 

Albury's first NRL match attracted a disappointing 6436 fans, and the Sea Eagles must now be wondering how wise the move was to shift it from their fortress at Brookvale. 

Errors and penalties cost Manly dearly in the first half, the Raiders making it pay for its lack of discipline. 

In the end, the absence of injured regulars Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Brenton Lawrence, Josh Starling and Feliti Mateo proved too much. 

Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans also struggled with an ankle issue late in the game.

The only positive note for the Sea Eagles was two tries from teenage winger Trbojevic, a late inclusion for Matai. 

Regardless of the missing troops, Manly looked lethargic and devoid of energy in racking up a fourth loss in five games, a shadow of the heavyweight team of recent years. 

Question marks must now be asked whether news of the loss of star halves Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans after this season has finally taken its toll. 

But coach Geoff Toovey and fullback Brett Stewart denied it was affecting the players.

"Not at all, I don't think any of us are thinking about that now," Stewart said.

"We're playing for each other each week. That's just an excuse if any player uses that."

With English recruit Josh Hodgson dynamic at hooker, Canberra looked a new side after scoring just 36 points combined in losses to the Warriors, Dragons and Roosters. 

Raiders lock Shaun Fensom was also inspirational with 142 metres and 46 tackles in his best display this year since returning from knee surgery. 

Canberra scored five unanswered tries and despite late four-pointers to Blair and Trbojevic, the result was never in doubt.

The only blemish for Canberra was Jordan Rapana being placed on report for a tackle on Jamie Buhrer, which denied Waqa a double.

CANBERRA RAIDERS 29 (Sisa Waqa, Blake Austin; Jarrad Kennedy, Jordan Rapana; Jarrod Croker tries; Jarrod Croker 4 goals; Sam Williams field goal) bt MANLY SEA EAGLES 16 (Tom Trbojevic 2, Cheyse Blair tries; Peta Hiku, Kieran Foran goals) at Lavington Oval, Albury on Saturday night. Crowd: 6436. Referees: Henry Perenara and Gavin Reynolds.