Manly coach Des Hasler was trying to contain his relief while opposite number Ivan Henjak struggled to mask his anger as the Sea Eagles got their NRL title defence back on track with a controversial 22-20 win over Brisbane on Sunday.

Classy Sea Eagles centre Jamie Lyon was embroiled in two hotly-disputed tries awarded by video referee Paul Simpkins as Manly stormed back from 16-6 down at half-time to upset the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

It was Manly's first win of the season without injured fullback Brett Stewart and one which may have rescued their season after posting just two wins from their previous eight games.

Lyon, who now looks almost certain to be selected for NSW in next month's Origin opener in Melbourne, was awarded a "torso try" shortly after half-time when his hip came in contact with the ball over the line.

But it was his third try in the 70th minute, where he propelled the ball forward before scoring, which was the talking point after the game and a sore point with the Broncos.

Lyon and Brisbane winger Antonio Winterstein competed for a Glenn Stewart kick which Lyon knocked forward.

It immediately sparked comparisons with Jarryd Hayne's "no try" for Parramatta against the Cowboys a few weeks ago when he hit to ball over fullback Matt Bowen's head before regaining it.

"They were within the context of the rules so they were tries," said Hasler who refused to declare Manly's season back on track after the win.

Henjak and Brisbane skipper Darren Lockyer had a different take on Lyon's dubious double.

"I was a little confused, to me he knocked the ball forward," said Henjak, clearly of the opinion Lyon's action was a deliberate attempt to gain an advantage.

"I saw (Jarryd) Hayne penalised for something similar.

"It looked deliberate to me but maybe I don't know the rules too well."

Lockyer said: "When the try was awarded, a lot of the boys were surprised."

On Lyon's try where he was ruled to have scored with his torso, Henjak said: "Does he have to control the football, I don't know?"

"I didn't think he had any control whatsoever, but I'm sure they (referees' boss Robert Finch) will send something through."

A frustrated Lockyer said when he queried referee decisions he usually got the standard reply: "It's not up to me, it's up to the guy upstairs."

Winterstein, who scored a spectacular aerial try in the 78th minute which could have spun the game into extra time had no problem with Lyons' try.

"We both went up for it, but he got there first," said the young winger who would have rated his seventh try in the NRL as his best had Brisbane won.

Lyon couldn't understand what all the fuss about.

"Of course it was (a try)," he said.

"I went up for the ball, it popped up, I don't think there was too much drama."

One thing Lockyer and Henjak agreed on was at 16-0 up, Brisbane should not have lost the game.

Manly skipper Matt Orford was outwardly more excited than his coach who said it was ridiculous to read too much into the win so far out from the finals.

"It was important for us to win to get some self-belief and confidence," said Orford.

"We got back to our ugly selves today, it wasn't pretty, but it was gusty."

Brisbane hooker Aaron Gorrell will have scans on Monday after injuring his shoulder later in the game.

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