Lonergan's magical boot sealed the Vikings' grinding 36-35 win over Brisbane City at Viking Park on Saturday, sending them back up the competition's leader board.

There were two sin-bins, numerous penalties and Canberra lost a 14-point lead, yet coach Nick Scrivener had nothing but praise for his men's resilience.

"Some of our defensive work was first class, especially defending our line," Scrivener said. They got held up a few times and our blokes just never gave in.

"Although they scored 35 points, we had guys in the sin bin, there were scrum penalties and those sorts of things. For the large parts, we defended well and with a lot of heart.

"We were physical and fronted-up well for each other, which was pleasing and in the end it was just enough."

Canberra came out firing in front of a packed Viking Park, wearing yellow, blue and white strip jerseys to pay homage to the ACT Kookaburras.

The opening minutes see-sawed in a grueling defensive battle, until Tom Ross pushed over the line from a rolling maul to score the Vikings' first try.

Canberra rode on the momentum as starting flanker Luke Gersekowski skipped around Brisbane's right edge to score three minutes later.

But Brisbane bounced back as Brandon Paenga-Amosa scored moments later, with a pick and dive move from held-up ruck.

The Vikings were hit with a double blow when Gersekowski was sent to the sin bin after being involved in a two-man tackle which took Brisbane's Ruan Smith out of the game.

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The experience prop's back slammed onto the turf as Gersekowski entered the tackle. Smith lay motionless until he was helped off by the team doctor.

But the setback only fueled Canberra's fire as the hosts managed to extend their lead despite being a player down.

Brumbies Andy Muirhead and Mack Hansen brought the ball 70 metres down the left edge with interchanging passes. Hansen was momentarily held up in a tackle but threw the ball over his head to the winger, who cut off the defence and ran inside to score.

Brisbane responded with a penalty try but Toni Pulu handed the hosts a 12-point lead as he charged through two defenders to score just before the break.

The Vikings looked to take control of the second half as Pete Samu broke through in the opening minute, but it was Brisbane's Teti Tela who scored the opening try.

Brumby Tom Wright crossed over to extend the margin but Queenslanders Paenga-Amosa and Tuaina Tualima scored to give Brisbane a two-point lead with ten minutes left.

The clock continued to tick and Canberra struggled to gain momentum as Queensland defended to close out the match.

But scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan, who kicked four conversions, took one look at captain Darcy Swain, nodded and booted a long-range penalty goal in the 76^th minute.

"To win the game you have to take those moments," Lonergan said.

"I didn't really think about it. I knew what was at stake. I'm just really happy I could do it for the boys who put in a huge game today.

"We stuck in really well and close the game out. A lot of teams let that slip, so it goes to show how we play for each other and how much we dug in there."

Canberra created ruck after ruck during the last two minutes to hold possession and clinch a one-point victory.

Lonergan played the entire 80 minutes despite Wallaby Joe Powell's return to the Vikings' side. Scrivener decided to keep his best kicker on field given the narrow scoreline, while Wallabies Pete Samu and Rob Valetini starred on the back line.

"He's inform off the boot so in the end it proved to be the right decision [to keep Lonergan on]," Scrivener said.

"Our back row was excellent, particularly in a physical game where we defend a lot. Rob Valetini was fantastic, Luke Gersewski was outstanding and Pete Samu was very good.

"They were in the front of all that, they were combative and busy."

Meanwhile Sydney claimed a 47-26 upset over Queensland Country, opening up the ladder. The Vikings will fly to Perth and face ladder-leaders Western Force next week.

NATIONAL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Canberra Vikings 36 (Ross, Gersekowski, Muirhead, Pulu, Wright tries; Lonergan 4 conversions, 1 penalty) bt Brisbane City 35 (Paenga-Amosa 2, Tela, Tualima tries, Lucas 4 conversions)