The pass that won't be found in any rugby league playbook

It wasn't planned. It wasn't rehearsed. It was a pass in hope, but it paid off.

Corey Waddell's impromptu tunnel-ball pass through his legs into the waiting arms of Daly Cherry-Evans led to a try in last Saturday's clash with the Dragons at WIN Stadium.

Cherry-Evans crashed over under the posts in the 58th minute as the Sea Eagles were on the comeback trail after being down 8-4 at halftime.

Far from taking the glory for an unexpected and very effective move, Waddell looked a bit sheepish when trying to explain how it all came about.

"He didn't call for it," Waddell told NRL.com.

"We were just attacking that try line for a few sets there and I was just trying to free the ball. And the only way was through the legs.

"I didn't really think twice about it – I just threw it and was hoping Daly would be there and he was.

"That's the player he is. He is always in support and always near the ball.

"There was no huddle in the dressing room pre-match, with any whispers to watch where the ball might come from if we get the right play.

"At training we're always mucking around and doing stuff like this ... so maybe some of that ad-lib stuff at training has paid off in the real thing.

"Manase [Fainu] took the ball close but that meant there was no-one at hooker so I just picked it up and tried to get through and hoped someone was backing up. I just trusted my instincts."

While it's not part of Manly's playbook, the unconventional pass didn't attract the ire of coach Des Hasler.

"Des is always saying not to play small but play big … I think they [coaching staff] were happy about it," Waddell said.

But don't expect it to be part of Waddell's repertoire against the Raiders at Lottoland on Sunday.

"You don't want to become too predictable," Waddell said.

The former Penrith Panther is now five games into his NRL career and hoping to keep nailing a spot in Hasler's first-choice 17.

"I've got to keep working hard at training. And after those sessions I work a little extra with Jake [Trbojevic] on my new combinations there in the middle," he said.

"I love playing with him and the other forwards. We're all helping each other out when one of us gets a little fatigued. I think that's been key for us.

"We're always talking to each other on the field in attack and working on some really good shapes in defence."

The Sea Eagles pack will need that when facing the likes of John Bateman, Elliott Whitehead, Ryan Sutton, Josh Papalii and former Manly prop Dunamis Lui.

"They're also playing for each other and won five games out of six which is a massive accomplishment in this game," Waddell said.

"They're a classy team and we have to turn up on Sunday ready play ... and ready to play through fatigue because Canberra will be very tough."