I threw a rocker when I put in my S4s last week. I knocked one off when I was putting the intake cam in place. I put it back of course, and I thought it was seated properly. I even rotated the engine by hand. When I started it up- lub, lub, clak clak clak- and I shut it off. Pulled the valve cover and sure enough, that rocker was off. It just scuffed it a little, nothing serious. I took it apart, put it all back together, and now all is well.
Anyhow, I think the lifter would be noisy if it wasn't bled, but I don't think that could throw the rocker. I bet it wasn't fully seated when you put everything together.