Sea Eagles match-winner Brett Stewart has spoken of his elation to score an amazing try in the final moments to claim a 26-24 victory over the Raiders, just minutes after making an uncharacteristic mistake to gift Canberra a four-pointer.
With just two minutes left on the clock, Stewart broke the hearts of the Raiders – who have found it almost impossible to close out games this season – thanks to some typically brilliant support play.
"I enjoyed it [the try] a lot actually," Stewart said.
"I copped a bit of stick from the Canberra boys when I let it (the ball) bounce so I had a few words to exchange after my try," he said, referencing an earlier mistake in which he failed to clean up a deep kick from Sam Williams, allowing Jarrad Kennedy to score a try.
"It was [an amazing feeling] obviously after that mistake letting the ball bounce there in the last ten minutes you know, probably any other bounce it goes out.
"But that's the bounce of the ball, just fortunate enough to get the win back for the boys in the last couple of minutes."
Stewart, who scored an earlier try in similar fashion off a Justin Horo break, also discussed the momentum his Manly team has coming into the crunch end of the season having won their last four games straight.
"I think it's four wins now and in amongst them are some good quality teams and obviously Canberra down here is a tough win as well.
"To come back from eight points down and win on the bell is very pleasing and shows the fighting spirit amongst the boys.
"We could have rolled over quite easily but we've got a lot of experience in this side and I think that really was the shining light at the end of the day.
"We've got some old heads around to keep the younger blokes' heads screwed on, we proved today that you can come from behind and even though you're behind on the scoreboard you just keep doing things you practiced all week."
Despite the Sea Eagles clearly having the advantage in their backline, thanks to some great performances by Jamie Lyon, Cherry-Evans and Stewart, the 'Prince of Brookvale' made special mention of the maroon forward pack.
They stuck it to the much bigger Raiders despite the suspension of Willie Mason and the loss of Jake Trbojevic early in the second half.
"Jake was a big loss for us and they're a massive team not only in their pack, right across the park they put their subs on and they get even bigger," Stewart said.
"Full credit to our boys they really stuck it to them today and they're probably the reason we got home in the end."
