Canberra youngster Ethan Sanders denies stunning Manly comeback with golden-point field goal

Raiders youngster Ethan Sanders nailed a field goal in golden point on Saturday night to snare a 29-28 victory for Canberra over Manly and deny the Sea Eagles a remarkable comeback win.

The Sea Eagles trailed 28-14 with six minutes to go in regular time at Brookvale Oval, but in an astounding finishing surge ran in two converted tries and slotted an 80th-minute penalty goal to lock up the scores at 28 apiece.

The last of the Manly tries, scored by former Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty in the 75th minute, was a long-range epic. Tolu Koula, the scorer of Manly's second-last try, carved up Canberra's right-edge defence inside the Sea Eagles' 25-metre zone, raced 60 metres down the field and linked up with Tom Trbojevic. Twisting and turning, the superstar fullback eluded three defenders. He then found Fogarty, who scored just right of the sticks.

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With barely 10 seconds left on the clock, Manly trailing 28-26, Fogarty went in search of a two-point field goal from 42 metres out. He misfired, but the Raiders were pinged for being off side, and Fogarty potted over a penalty goal to force golden point.

Cue Sanders' heroic moment.

The Canberra halfback, 22 and playing only his fifth NRL game, rifled home a one-point field goal off his left boot from 36 metres out to snatch a 29-28 victory for the visitors.

"I'm glad I got it away because I was cramping a bit before that, so I was just lucky it went over," Sanders said on the Fox League broadcast.

"I can't give 'Sando' a big enough rap," Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange told Fox League.

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Sanders didn't only kick the match-winning field goal; he scored a try in the 68th minute and was instrumental with his kicking in general play.

"I thought his game tonight was very mature, well beyond the amount of games he's played [in first grade]," Canberra coach Ricky Stuart said in his post-match press conference.

"It's nice to see for him."

Early in the game, Canberra captain Joseph Tapine laid a dangerous tackle on Trbojevic, sparking a melee in which Raiders firebrand Corey Horsburgh threw a punch.

The clash turned fiery in the ninth minute when Tapine picked up Trbojevic and drove the fullback into the turf with a lifting tackle.

Haumole Olakau'atu raced in to give it back to Tapine and was met by the eruptive Horsburgh, who with a clenched right fist tried to hit the Sea Eagles enforcer.

Whether Horsburgh connected with Olakau'atu was unable to be determined by the broadcast.

Tapine wasn't placed on report but Fogarty slotted a penalty goal to make the visitors pay.

Trbojevic wasn't injured by Tapine's tackle.

No immediate disciplinary action was taken against Horsburgh. How the NRL's match review committee handles the indiscretion remains to be seen.

Raiders legend Josh Papalii is set to miss next Friday night's clash with the Warriors in Auckland after failing a head injury assessment.

Manly forward Jake Trbojevic could also be set for time on the sidelines, having been placed on report for a dangerous tackle in which he put pressure on the back of Simi Sasagi's neck.