Canberra's stuttering NRL season has been given double boost with a gutsy 24-22 win away from home against Manly and news that star fullback Josh Dugan is set to re-sign.

Rumours were that Dugan was poised to link with the Roosters, but Dugan revealed he hopes to put pen to paper with the Raiders in the coming week after agreeing to terms.

It was further good news for the green machine, who snapped a four-match losing streak and kept their finals hopes alive with a performance captain Terry Campese described as one of the best he's been involved with at the club.

With three out of their next four matches to be played in Canberra, the Raiders now have a golden chance to close the four-point gap which separates them from the top eight.

Dugan was huge in defence as Manly came hard at the visitors in the final quarter of the match, but it was the kicking game and control shown by Campese, with the help of halfback Josh McCrone, which saw the Raiders over the line.

Dugan said the team had unlimited potential, and that was the impetus behind his decision to stay.

"I've been talking about it during the week and hopefully can get it done in the next week or so," said Dugan.

"We're a tight-knit bunch of blokes and we're always there for each other."

Campese scored in the 45th minute, powering over the line from a near-stand-still start to give his side a valuable eight-point lead.

The one-time NSW five-eighth, who wasn't given a look-in this series, was also the man who put the Raiders in the lead shortly before halftime when he hit a hard-running Joe Picker with a brilliant short ball.

"He's copped a bit of criticism as well and they always have a look at the halves and I thought Campo's response was very good today and well deserved," coach David Furner said.

Furner said Dugan's re-signing was crucial for the future of the club.

"It's tremendous and Josh being a local, playing some tremendous footy ... it's great, 'Duges' is set to announce he's extended until 2012," Furner said.

As the Raiders began to believe this might be the start of a late-season surge, Manly were left to ponder whether they were in the midst of a free-fall.

If the Warriors beat the Panthers on Sunday, the Sea Eagles will drop out of the top eight.

"There are bench marks in this competition which we know we can meet," said Manly coach, Des Hasler.

"We're all in this together and we'll keep treating it that way and keep working away at it."

Canberra won the match on the back of their resilient defence, tactical kicking game and two stunning tries against the run of play in the first half.

Winger Joel Monaghan ran 90 metres to score an intercept try after seven minutes, and in the 25th minute, Adam Mogg turned defence into attack when he stripped Kieran Foran of the ball, ran down-field and off-loaded for Daniel Vidot to finish.

Canberra lock Shaun Fensom left the field with what is believed to be a high ankle sprain, while Mogg has a shoulder problem.

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