Interim Raiders coach Andrew Dunemann made the staggering admission after the match that Ferguson was fit to play against Manly on Sunday, despite being ruled out with a quad injury.

It is believed he had family issues to attend to in Sydney. Ferguson was photographed with former Raiders bad boy and Cronulla star Todd Carney at the Clovelly Hotel on Saturday night, increasing speculation he will seek a release from the final two years of his contract with the Raiders.

The week from hell took its toll on the Raiders and they were no match for Manly at Canberra Stadium. Ferguson is embroiled in another controversy while Furner became the first coach in the club's 32-year history to be sacked.

The 36-22 scoreline against Manly could have been a cricket score after the Sea Eagles piled on 24 unanswered points in the opening half-hour.

It was the fourth straight loss for the Raiders and pushes them to 12th on the ladder.

They need to win both their remaining games against the Warriors (away) and the Sharks (home) and hope other results go their way.

It was a brutal initiation to the first-grade coaching caper for Dunemann, as he presses his claims for the gig on a permanent basis.

Dunemann refused to blame the absence of Ferguson for Canberra's loss.

''Everyone loves Fergo, but everyone knows he has to get off the field right along with on the field,'' Dunemann said.

''I was happy with the team I picked today. I'm not going to make excuses because I've got blokes out.

''We've got the team there to win today, and apart from the start, we could have.''

Raiders chief executive Don Furner spoke with Ferguson on Sunday morning and was informed he wouldn't be at the game.

Ferguson reportedly wants to activate a get-out clause in his contract and has been linked to a return to the Sharks.

Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey admitted he expected the Raiders could have been vulnerable early given the turmoil surrounding the club.

''We started fairly quickly, which was good. We knew we had to do that with all the drama that's been down here the last week,'' Toovey said.

''It's been well publicised in the past, teams bouncing back after adversity, so we were prepared for that.''

The Raiders looked set to launch a miracle comeback when Reece Robinson scored with Steve Matai in the sin bin to bring the deficit back to 12 points early in the second half.

But the Sea Eagles showed all their class, even without injured stars Brett Stewart and veteran prop Brent Kite, to consolidate their spot in the top four.

''The emotion was always going to be there, but we had to be smart with the footy and I thought at times we were really good,'' Raiders co-captain Brett White said.

''Unfortunately, when you're playing a good team like that, they make you pay.''

Robinson impressed at fullback, as did moving Anthony Milford in the halves.

With captain Terry Campese and front-rower Tom Learoyd-Lahrs expected to face the Warriors, Dunemann believes they can keep their finals dreams alive.

''I think we're in with a big crack,'' he said.

''I've got belief in this team and I know what they've got.

''All we can worry about is we've got two games left and if we win those we'll put ourselves in the mix … we can still make the eight.''