Gold Coast captain Greg Bird has denied making a “squirrel grip” on Penrith forward Sika Manu in an unsavoury aftermath to Penrith’s 14-12 win over the Titans on Monday.

Manu lashed out at Bird after a 75th minute tackle.

“He grabbed him on the nuts,” Panthers skipper Peter Wallace could be heard saying over the referees’ radio.

But Bird brushed off the drama.

“He wasn’t that lucky,” the NSW and Kangaroos representative joked.

“I don’t know mate, I just tackled him and he blew up about it.”

Manu declined to talk to reporters after the match and Penrith will make no official complaint but the matter is sure to spark the interest of the NRL’s match review committee.

Cronulla back-rower Tinirau Arona escaped suspension for what appeared to be a “squirrel grip” on St George Illawarra winger Jason Nightingale in round three at Remondis Stadium.

Last year South Sydney forward Sam Burgess was hit with a two-game ban for using the controversial tackling technique on Melbourne centre Will Chambers.

The rugby union-bound England representative later rejected suggestions he was a dirty player but said he regretted the incident.

The claims against Bird came as the Titans relinquished their lead at the top of the NRL ladder after their first loss in five games.

After seven rounds the Titans have enjoyed five wins alongside Canterbury, Wests Tigers and Manly but their negative for and against drops them to fourth on the ladder.