Gold Coast have avoided a points deduction for fielding a 14th man against Canberra, but have been slugged with a $5000 fine by the NRL.

The Titans fielded the extra man when David Shillington entered the field of play early in the second half at GIO Stadium on Saturday in an attempt to replace Tyrone Roberts, who appeared injured but stayed on.

Shillington took his place in the Canberra defence on their tryline for about five seconds before leaving the field.

After reviewing the incident the NRL issued a statement on Sunday afternoon, announcing it would issue a breach notice to the Titans.

“There is clear evidence of 14 players being on the field for a very brief period of time,” NRL football operations manager Nathan McGuirk said.

“While it did not impact significantly on the game, we do take matters of this nature seriously.

“Ultimately, the responsibility for ensuring there are 13 players on the field at any one time rests with the club.

“Based on the facts, we see this as an offence of a relatively minor nature, and we believe that a $5000 breach notice is an appropriate penalty.”

Gold Coast have five working days to respond to the breach notice.

Canterbury were the last club to be stripped of two premiership points in 2009, after they were found to have 14 players on the field when Ben Roberts scored the match-winning try in the victory over Penrith.

North Queensland had points deducted in 2000, while Western Suburbs, 1975, South Sydney, 1988, Gold Coast, 1992, Balmain, 1993, and Auckland, 1995, all suffered the same fate.

Brisbane were stripped of two points in April 2004 in their win over Wests Tigers, but won them back on appeal.