The Knights scored five tries to two and the margin was sufficient to send Manly to last spot on points difference below Canberra, the only other team yet to win a game this season.

The Raiders face North Queensland in Canberra tonight.

The Sea Eagles started well with centre Steve Matai crossing for the first try after six minutes.

However, Matai was forced off the field with a shoulder injury before the half hour and Newcastle ruthlessly exploited the visitors' rejigged defence.

Newcastle turned the match around with two quick tries just before half-time to forward Zeb Taia and centre Junior Sau.

Manly failed to capitalise on early opportunities and was held scoreless for more than 70 minutes while Newcastle racked up 26 unanswered points.

Halfback Jarrod Mullen came off the bench after missing one game with a broken rib.

Together with starting halves Ben Rogers and Scott Dureau, captain and fullback Kurt Gidley and veteran centre Adam MacDougall expertly moved their troops around, making Newcastle too efficient and clinical for the visitors.

''We had a talk during the week and we want to make this home ground a fortress and we kicked off on the right foot today,'' Mullen said.

While Hasler expected to reinstate fullback Brett Stewart next week after his four-game suspension, he extracted few positives from his team's performance.

''I thought we didn't compete as well on the ground as what they did, but we stayed in it,'' Hasler said.

The coach vowed his team would work through its challenges.

Prop Brent Kite was equally defiant.

''Four losses isn't going to shake us, we know what we are capable of, we will be out next week to try and turn it around,'' Kite said.

Manly did receive support from opposing coach Brian Smith.

''I thought they [the Sea Eagles] played like a really gallant group of players, they really turned the pressure on us in the first half,'' Smith said.

''I think everybody recognises Manly are a bit down on their luck at the moment. They are missing some key players, sometimes you can try too hard.

''I think they deserve plenty of praise for the way they went about their work today.''

Smith said his team's victory was set up by its strong defence in the first 20 minutes. Manly was unable to mount any substantial pressure in the second half during which wingers James McManus, Akuila Uate and Gidley scored tries. AAP