MANLY have been fined $5000 by the NRL for having 14 players on the paddock against the Gold Coast on Friday night.

The extra player was on the field for only a few seconds, for which the Sea Eagles can be thankful. Had it been longer, the mistake could have cost them far more - including the loss of competition points. Manly made an interchange in the 57th minute, but after a player had left the field and the new player had gone on, the player who had left, realised he was not the player to be substituted and ran back on without the permission of the interchange official.

The player who was meant to be replaced was still making his way behind the dead-ball line, meaning that for a few seconds, Manly, who ended up winning 34-14 but were still in an arm wrestle at that stage, had 14 players on the field.

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said last night that had something significant happened to assist Manly win while 14 players were on the field, the club would have been at risk of a penalty much worse than a four-figure fine.

Manly chief executive Grant Mayer accepted the league's rules had been "unintentionally breached" and said the club's players would be reminded of the interchange procedures.

The Titans were also fined, $1000 in their case. One of their players failed to hand the interchange card to the official before entering the field, dropping it on the ground.

Meanwhile, a new contender for the Wests Tigers halfback jersey next season has emerged with the club signing Titans pivot Josh Lewis, putting Mathew Head's future at the club in further doubt, particularly as he is sidelined with a recurring shoulder injury and a thumb problem. John Morris has another crack at the No.7 jersey that was taken from him by Head earlier in the year when the Tigers face Melbourne on Monday.

Benji Marshall is also in the mix. "I see [Marshall] as a good option for that position for us down the track, he could play there easy," coach Tim Sheens said. "But he needs schooling and a lot of work and we'd like to see him get through this year without any problems and, as he overcomes that and gets through the end of the year and has a good off-season, I think the kid can do anything."

A Balmain junior, Lewis is returning to the Tigers on a one-year deal. Head, off contract at the end of the year, has a number of clubs chasing his signature, including the Warriors, but is keen to stay with the Tigers. However, with salary cap restrictions and Head's questionable fitness, his future remains in the air.

With AAP