Newcastle Knights looked down and out but teenager Bradman Best inspired a stunning fightback that secured a 14-14 draw against Penrith Panthers in the NRL.

Injuries to halfback Mitchell Pearce and hooker Connor Watson inside the opening 10 minutes meant an already depleted Knights team were down to the bare bones.

A Campbelltown cracker eventually took shape, but at one stage it looked as though Penrith would stroll to victory in their first game since the season resumed following a hiatus amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Viliame Kikau and Kurt Capewell barged over for tries - the second an eight-point score after Capewell was kicked by Edrick Lee as he grounded the ball.

Stephen Crichton's boot allowed Penrith to lead 14-0 heading towards half-time, but the Knights hit back moments before the interval when Jacob Saifiti drove over for a converted score.

Eighteen-year-old centre Best then darted in down the left for two tries in the second half to bring the teams level, forcing 10 minutes of golden-point overtime.

Penrith's Matt Burton repeatedly threatened during regulation time with drop-goal efforts, and he went closest of all to winning the match in the extra period when another shot at goal bounced back off the top of the right post.

Sunday's other NRL clash lacked similar drama, with the Manly Sea Eagles posting a thumping 32-6 win over the Canterbury Bulldogs.

First-half tries from Tom Trbojevic, who pounced twice in the opening 25 minutes, and Brad Parker, were followed after the break by scores from Jorge Taufua, Curtis Sironen, a second from Parker, and Reuben Garrick.

Jake Averillo put the Bulldogs on the board late on in the one-sided contest.