Luke Brooks' field goal secured a thrilling 29-28 NRL win for Wests Tigers over Canterbury Bulldogs after Newcastle Knights rallied to beat Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday.

The Tigers' finals hopes were in danger of taking a big blow at Bankwest Stadium, where bottom side Canterbury were on course for just a fifth win of the season with time running out.

Wests led 22-16 at the break following tries from Moses Mbye, David Nofoaluma and two from Luke Garner, with Nick Meaney, Marcelo Montoya and Matt Doorey dotting down at the other end in a frantic first half.

The Bulldogs grasped the initiative with tries from Aiden Tolman and Kerrod Holland, who converted both of those four-pointers to give his side a six-point advantage.

Yet Joey Leilua's try, converted by Mbye, drew the Tigers level eight minutes from time and Brooks booted the winning point from 32 metres out with three minutes to play to move his side four points behind the eighth-placed South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The Knights fought back from 12-0 down and were also behind in the final 10 minutes before Enari Tuala's second try of the game, converted by Kalyn Ponga, downed Manly 26-24.

Manly also lost Brendan Elliot to what may be a torn anterior cruciate ligament at McDonald Jones Stadium as their finals bid suffered another setback.