Sydney Roosters have overcome a Nathan Brown send-off and a late Manly onslaught to hang on for a 26-16 win that keeps alive their NRL finals hopes.

Manly’s defeat was compounded with news that prop Matt Lodge has suffered a season-ending ACL injury against his former club.

Staring at the prospect of missing the top eight for just the second time in the last 10 years, Trent Robinson’s men had to defeat the Sea Eagles on Thursday night in front of a 12,197 crowd at the SCG.

Their victory wasn’t pretty, but it will be a huge confidence boost as they attempt to claw their way up the ladder.

“It was an important game to win and we constructed the game really well,” Robinson said.

“We asked some questions, we were much more threatening and we had a lot more cohesion.”

Tweet from @NRL

The win takes the Roosters up to 12th and one win outside the top eight, ahead of a run home which pits them against the Dolphins, Parramatta, Wests Tigers and South Sydney.

Brown will likely be absent for that season-defining stretch after the ex-Eels and Tigers forward was dismissed just after the hour mark for a high shot on Ben Trbojevic.

Brown had only been subbed on 30 seconds before he collared the Manly back-rower and left referee Ashley Klein with no option but to send him from the field.

Robinson argued a send-off was an extreme decision due to the precedents set earlier this year.

“What made that stand out? Why was that a send off?,” Robinson asked.

“I could give you much worse tackles than that which haven’t been sent from the field.”

It was the only blemish on an evening which could prove critical in the Roosters’ season, with their attack finally showing signs of spark and their defence displaying a return of their steely grit.

A first-half double from Daniel Tupou and a barge-over from Joey Manu helped the Tricolours run out to an 18-2 halftime lead.

Reuben Garrick’s penalty goal had opened the scoring for the Sea Eagles from right in front.

Manu added his second after the break with centre Billy Smith and winger Joseph Suaalii also finding their way across the stripe.

Brown’s dismissal allowed Manly to hit back with tries to Brad Parker, Josh Schuster and Tolutau Koula in the final quarter of an hour, but that was the only time the Roosters’ line relented.

It was all too little too late for Anthony Seibold’s side, who sit one point ahead of the Roosters.

The loss of Lodge adds to a growing list of sidelined front-rowers that includes Josh Aloiai, Taniela Paseka and Sean Keppie.

“He’s going to be out for an extended period of time,” Seibold said.

“He went off after four minutes in, that’s not an excuse, because I thought they won the physical battle.

“It becomes a little bit harder for us.”

-AAP