Sydney Roosters hitman Zane Tetevano faces a nervous wait after being put on report for a high tackle in their 20-16 NRL win over Gold Coast.

Tetevano floored Titans prop Ben Nakubuwai after rushing out of the defensive line to put on a shot where his shoulder glanced the rookie’s head in the second half at Allianz Stadium.

Play was halted for about five minutes before Nakubawai was put on a medicab. He failed to return but Roosters coach Trent Robinson thought the tackle was legal.

“I thought it was really tough, but it wasn’t a loose tackle,” Robinson said.

“He stepped in, tackled him, wrapped with the arms, went all the way to the ground, and Zane was really clear about the tackle. There was no malice in the tackle.

“It was a big, strong, firm tackle. And then I’m not sure about the whiplash that caused that, but none of us liked seeing him move off the field like that.”

Tetevano has become a vital part of the Roosters’ forwards rotation off the bench, playing in 22 of the team’s 24 games and averaging 74 metres in 31 minutes.

Titans interim coach Terry Matterson said Nakubuwai had no memory of the incident.

“He’ll take a little while to recover. He’s OK, he’s in the shed there, but he’s got no memory. Told him a few porky pies, told him he scored another try. He’s pretty happy with that,” he said.

“He’ll be OK but it wasn’t nice. He didn’t miss him.”

Matterson refuted suggestions Tetevano deserved to be sent off, citing similar incidents.

“I think that’s the way they’re going now,” he said. “I think it’s important we don’t have a knee-jerk reaction and we get consistency in what we’re doing.”