They have been hammered at times for lacking desire and resolve and not showing enough pride in the jumper. The harshest of critics have even claimed the club has lost its soul after a number of forgettable performances.

But they stood up when it counted yesterday. With a rag-tag backline devoid of Mitchell Pearce, Kalyn Ponga, Blake Green, Kurt Mann, Edrick Lee and Hymel Hunt, they stood up against one of the NRL's form teams to guts out a crucial victory.

It wasn't pretty. But it was two of the most valuable competition points this side will pocket this season given their struggles with personnel and a lack of confidence.

For a week at least, it will also ease some pressure on a club that has been under the pump in recent weeks.

"For the players, staff, supporters, members - it was a big win for us," coach Adam O'Brien said after the 18-10 victory in front of 17,348 fans.

The relief on the coach's face was difficult to hide. It was just his side's third win from their past 10 games.

They did it off the back of a whole lot of resilience in defence and a great kicking game from young halfback Phoenix Crossland.

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With no Pearce, Ponga or Green and with Mann picking up an injury in the captain's run on Saturday and pulling out yesterday morning, the Knights were forced to go in with the unlikeliest of spines - Crossland and Connor Watson playing together in the halves for the first time and Tex Hoy back in at fullback after being dumped for the previous week's game against the Cowboys. All three did the jersey proud.

Down 10-0 after 26 minutes after conceding early and then gifting a 90 metre try to Jason Saab, the Knights clawed their way back to lead 12-10 at halftime after winger Starford To'a crossed in the corner and Watson laid on a try seconds from the break for Jesse Sue with a superb pass.

In the second half, the Eagles rarely threatened despite the breeze with Crossland's booming right boot kicking the Knights out of trouble when it counted as they clung to their two point advantage until Daniel Saifiti stormed over to seal it with two minutes left.

"When Kurt went down, I knew I had to take more ownership of the team," Crossland said. "In that second half, I just tried to kick them as hard as I could but the win was all about effort more than anything from all the boys."

Manly coach Des Hasler was highly critical of referee Ben Cummins, who sin binned Sean Keppie and Marty Taupau and lashed the Eagles 9-1 in the penalties.

"Benny Cummins is a much better referee than that," Hasler said. "First of all there's an issue there, the fact we couldn't buy some retribution as far as field position was concerned."

David Klemmer also found himself in the sin bin in the final minutes.