South Sydney forward Jaiman Lowe is expected to have his striking case sent directly to the NRL Judiciary on Monday after his king hit on Gold Coast's Brett Delaney ruined an otherwise superb round of NRL with three one-point ball games.

While Manly moved into the outright competition lead with a superb 13-12 win over fellow heavyweights Melbourne and reigning premier Brisbane stepped off the bottom of the ladder with a club record 71-6 thumping of Newcastle, it was the vicious blow by Lowe that will be talked about in the coming days.

Lowe decked Delaney late in the Rabbitohs 25-18 loss to the Titans at Carrara Stadium, his direct punch to the head earning him an immediate send off and reviving memories of Danny Williams' disgraceful blow to Mark O'Neill in 2004 which earned the Melbourne player an 18-week suspension.

The NRL match review committee could on Monday send the case direct to the NRL Judiciary for a Wednesday night hearing without a grading, as was the case for Williams in 2004.

Lowe's punch isn't as severe as Williams, with Delaney at least facing his attacker and only requiring 10 stitches afterwards whereas O'Neill suffered severe concussion and spent several weeks sidelined.

Lowe claims his punch was a reaction to Delaney grabbing his testicles during a tackle, but that provocation is going to be very hard to prove and still would not save him from suspension.

Former hardman Mark Geyer said "squirrel-grip" is not something new in rugby league, but added that it was unacceptable to respond with your fist.

"It's been going on in rugby league for a while now," Geyer told the Nine Network.

"It is no excuse for getting up and smacking someone in the jaw.

"I have been grabbed there a couple times in my career and it hurts and you feel like punching someone, but you don't."

Manly's Anthony Watmough and Jason King also face an anxious wait of the match review committee after they were put on report for a dangerous throw on Steve Turner.

"I think he landed flush on his back and I don't think he got past the horizontal or anything," said Watmough.

"Do you get penalised for picking someone up? I don't know, we'll let them decide that one."

Penrith pair Michael Gordon (dangerous throw) and Frank Pritchard (high tackle) are also on report while Peter Wallace could come under scrutiny for making contact with referee Jared Maxwell in the Panthers' 25-24 loss to Wests Tigers.

Melbourne fullback Billy Slater is expected to have surgery on Monday morning on his fractured cheekbone and may only miss one to three weeks after a sickening collision with teammate Sam Tagatese's knee left him concussed and bloodied.

Brisbane jumped off the bottom of the table with their rout over a depleted Knights side, running in 12 tries to one to move into 12th but on equal points with Penrith, Bulldogs, St George Illawarra and last-placed Sydney Roosters.

The Roosters recorded their best win of the season with a 13-12 golden point victory over Cronulla on Saturday night, fullback Anthony Minichiello booting the winning field goal four minutes into extra time.

Half Jamie Soward played his first NRL game of 2007, but it could be his last in Roosters colours as he is in talks with the Dragons and expected to shift clubs this week.

Parramatta and New Zealand Warriors complete the round at Parramatta Stadium on Monday night.

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