Manly's Karl Lawton has become just the second player sent off for a dangerous throw since the Super League war, before South Sydney toppled the Sea Eagles 40-22 in Gosford.
On a disastrous night for Manly, second-rower Lawton was marched after just eight minutes when a tackle on Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray went wrong.
Defending his own line, Lawton wrapped his arms around the waist of the Souths lock, only for momentum to send Murray hurtling head first into the turf.
There was no hand between the legs, but it took referee Grant Atkins and the bunker around just a minute to send him from the field.
The drama came just four days after referee Adam Gee was dropped for failing to sin-bin Sydney Roosters winger Daniel Tupou for a high shot on Mikaele Ravalawa.
In doing so, Lawton joined Canberra star Nick Cotric in becoming the only players to be dismissed for a dangerous throw during the NRL era.
But despite spending 72 minutes with just 12 men, and losing Brad Parker to injury, Manly somehow stayed in the fight and threatened to become the first team since they did it in 2008 to win while down a man from the first half.
They shot out to a 10-2 lead in the 13 minutes after Lawton was sent from the field, and also refused to go away when trailing 30-16 early in the second half.
Daly Cherry-Evans in particular kicked brilliantly to keep the Sea Eagles in it, while Josh Schuster was back to his dangerous best in his first game back from an ankle injury.
Kieran Foran also scored a try and set up another as he and Reuben Garrick battled injuries as Manly hung in the match.
But ultimately the fatigue told, their defence buckled, and the likes of Cody Walker were too dominant.
Playing in his 150th game, Walker bagged one try himself when rookie Isaiah Tass got a ball out the back for him after half-time.
The pair had earlier also combined for a try just on the half-time siren, while Alex Johnston also claimed one on the dangerous left edge when he double-stepped opposite number Jason Saab.
Tom Burgess and Murray also scooped second-half tries through Manly's tired middle, while Blake Taaffe crossed for his first of the year on the siren to put the Rabbitohs in the top eight.
Imperious Panthers roll on with win over Titans
It wasn't pretty, but Penrith have kept their NRL title defence on track with an 18-4 win over a dogged Gold Coast.
The undefeated Panthers looked rattled at times against the battling hosts but held on to extend their unbeaten season start to eight straight after Nathan Cleary inspired a second-half revival.
The Titans appeared vulnerable after losing four of their last six matches including the last three.
Yet they were more than a match on Friday night despite making the surprise call to relegate X-factor David Fifita to the bench following last round's failed switch to the centres.
In the end, Cleary proved the difference after the Titans grabbed a surprise 4-0 half-time lead.
He showed his class, grubbering for Izack Tago to score his sixth try in eight games in the 43rd minute.
He then combined with hulking backrower Viliame Kikau before scoring himself four minutes later to threaten the expected blow out.
It didn't come but the Penrith juggernaut still rumbled along, with Cleary grubbering for Jarome Luai to score in the 74th minute.
Penrith's victory marked the first time in history a team had won the opening eight games in back to back seasons.
Gold Coast held an unlikely lead at the main break after an error-riddled first half.
Penrith were frustrated by Gold Coast but looked to have drawn first blood in the 22nd minute, only for fullback Dylan Edwards to be denied after the video referee ruled Cleary had obstructed Moeaki Fotuaika in the lead-up.
Both sides traded many errors before the Titans finally broke through thanks to some brilliance from surprise bench starter Fifita.
Fifita carved through Penrith close to the line, keeping the ball alive before winger Greg Marzhew gobbled up Will Smith's pin point chip kick and crashed over in the 38th minute.
Cleary's two-point field goal attempt was waved away at half-time, ending a forgettable first stanza that featured 11 errors, six by the defending premiers.
