Cowboys livid after controversial loss
Furious North Queensland coach Neil Henry has accused NRL referees of not being up to the standard the competition deserves after his side went down 22-12 to premiers Manly in Friday’s semi-final at Allianz Stadium.
With the scores locked at 12-12, the Sea Eagles scored two contentious second-half tries to win the game and book a clash with the Storm in Melbourne next Friday for a place in the grand final.
Henry and his skipper Johnathan Thurston were livid after the game, following the decisions to award efforts by Jorge Taufua and Michael Oldfield.
Both were given the benefit-of-the-doubt by video referees Paul Simpkins and Steve Clark, with the Cowboys claiming Taufua made a double movement before touching down.
But the decision to give Oldfield’s try left the visitors feeling robbed after Kieran Foran appeared to knock the ball forward from a Daly Cherry-Evans kick, allowing Jamie Lyon to bundle the ball towards Oldfield.
“The players in this competition have taken the game to the next level,” Henry said.
“There is no question as the quality of our product, but we’re not keeping pace in the officiating.
“Our season hung on a couple of decisions and I don’t care if you put five in the video box.
“I am not saying they are biased, they are incompetent.”
Thurston said he was angered by the loss and claimed during the game to referee Shayne Hayne that his side had: “Twice been robbed.”
“Those decisions, they can’t justify them, I am just gutted by them,” Thurston said after the match.
Manly coach Geoff Toovey admitted his side got the rub of the green in the second half and sympathised with Henry.
However, he was equally unhappy with the the decision that went against his side for the Cowboys’ second try, claiming Taufua was stripped of the ball, with referee Shayne Hayne penalising the winger for a knock-on.
He insisted Manly deserved the win and said Foran had told him he didn’t touch ball forward in the lead-up to Oldfield’s try.
“I saw them as benefit-of-the-doubt tries, but I thought it would have not been awarded if was not a knock-on,” Toovey said.
“There’s so much coverage with all the cameras out there but the blokes in the middle have to make the calls. Maybe they can do something about that.”
“Neil will be frustrated and I feel for him.”
Kiwi international Foran insisted he didn’t touch the ball as he jumped up with Thurston in the build up to the fourth try and said he was confident it would be awarded.
“I jumped up for it and Thurston kind of went for it at the same time, I didn’t feel my hand touch it so he must have got a hand to it,” Foran said.
“I was reasonably confident, provided Killer (Jamie Lyon) didn’t have a hand on him when he flicked the ball.”
Manly’s clash with the Storm next weekend will be a rematch of the 2007 and 2008 grand finals and Toovey is looking forward to the challenge of facing an old foe.
“We’ll head down there Friday, and we’ll be ready for it,” he said.
Result: Manly bt Nth Queensland 22-12
Key moment: The decision to award Michael Oldfield’s second try in the 63rd minute, after what appeared a knock-on by teammate Kieran Foran in the lead-up, left Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston flabbergasted and gave Manly a match-winning 10-point lead.
Man of the match: Manly winger Jorge Taufua scored a crucial try, had a hand in another, made four line-breaks and ran for 256 metres. He was immense.
Injuries: Manly: Jason King (shoulder).
Judiciary: None.
What’s next: Manly move on to a preliminary final with a team they’re more used to facing in grand finals, Melbourne. North Queensland have a summer to think about the referees.
© AAP 2013- Explore:
- NRL, Rugby League
September 15th 2012 @ 8:44am
nEd said | September 15th 2012 @ 8:44am | Report comment
I find it interesting that the Nine Commentary team were seriously ranting about the video refs decisions and the use of “benefit of the doubt” when it is Nine’s vison that the video ref has to use and for some reason with all the cameras around the field the video ref only got to see 2 or 3 angles. Surely it is the Nine’s directors job to present all possible angles if there is any degree of doubt. Seems Nine is more worried about slipping in as many ads as it can than helping the video ref get it right. Also the Nine Commentary team seem unable to view the video vision neutrally, as the video ref has to, but rather they impart their own bias to their interpretation, AND I think Nine really wanted a queensland team to remain in the finals race, its all about the ratings folks with channel Nine.
September 15th 2012 @ 9:24am
Dave said | September 15th 2012 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Spot on mate
September 15th 2012 @ 10:27am
Brendan said | September 15th 2012 @ 10:27am | Report comment
Could I remind you that every single commentator was a New South Welshman and that every news paper on the east coast is headlined robbed or something of the sort. The only biased here is you mate.
September 15th 2012 @ 11:56am
nEd said | September 15th 2012 @ 11:56am | Report comment
You missed my point on bias, I had no interest in either team (tonights game is different), the rants from Nine was as much to do with the decisions as it is to do with what Nine would like to have happened (in terms of results), but Nine also has the solution by showing more camera angles to end some controversy but doesn’t for some reason. Remember, also, that NRL “journos” breath controversy and it sells papers and is far easier to write than any analysis and dissection of the game.
As for the professionalism of the Nine commentary, did they really spend a minute or more during the game talking about how to pronounce the name of the stadium sponsor, and did Rabbits more than once mix up the names of Williams and Gulavao, they do look the same don’t they!
September 15th 2012 @ 9:06am
steve b said | September 15th 2012 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Incompetent is the word have to agree sad ref’s sad video ,shouild have been the best ref’s we have and if that’s the best then we are in trouble !!!
September 15th 2012 @ 6:49pm
Bazzio said | September 15th 2012 @ 6:49pm | Report comment
There are no “best ref’s” in the NRL. That’s THE problem.
September 15th 2012 @ 10:40am
Razza said | September 15th 2012 @ 10:40am | Report comment
GO THE EAGLES – I WILL TAKE THE WIN.
Bigmouth Thurston wasn’t complaining when the ball was STRIPPED from Taufua (BLATANT) and very visable on TV, with the Cowboys getting a scum feed in the Eagles half that led to a try from a METRE FORWARD pass from Thurston, no nothing said there,????.
The Ref’s are in charge, everyone can have a winge, but the final say goes to the Ref’s, what part of that doesn’t Thurston understand, anyway he is lucky he wasnt sin binned for 10 for descent, why wasnt he, because he is Johnathan Thurston, thats why with the biggest mouth in the game and if his team is losing, he mouths off, simple.
I agree, the two tries in question had a different outlook to the norm, but as long as they have the words, ( benifit of the doubt ) in the rule book that is the ruling and that is the end of the arguement.
Apart from the blow up about the two tries, it was a hard fought game with the Eagles blowing scoring chances left, right and centre and with very sloppy defence from the Eagles, namely Tony Williams who just stood still and put his right arm out to try and stop the big fellow who also brushed off another three tackles to score the Cowboys first vey soft try, but a good effort by him and as i said about the second try, from a metre forward pass, apart from that the Cowboys were going no where with great defence from both sides, this is what won the game for the Eagles.
Manly should hang onto Faufua, he was brilliant and deserved the man of the match, but the Eagles have got to play finals football and take advantage of every chance to score points like Oldfield scooting down the flank and going to ground with the ball when Cherry – Evans should have got the ball with the line wide open ?? and i could not believe the attempt at field goal before the first tackle on halftime, why not run the ball and use the tackles to get closer then have a shot, also those silly grubber kicks to in goal, why not try a field goal, Jack Gibson would be turning in his grave if he saw that (never leave your opponents half without points) was his war cry.
Cherry – Evans wants to also practice his down field kicking and make sure the ball doesn’t go into the deadball area like he did on a few occasions and kick it high to put the fullback under pressure from dropping it, this is all finals football stuff and it is not rocket science. Tony Williams is a loaf and has been reading too many papers and he doesn’t use his size and speed like he should, now and again is not good enough, he didn’t have much impact in the game apart from a couple of solid runs, goodbye Tony, goodluck Parramatta.
It seems that everytime i bag the Eagles they perform and win, good and as for the game against the Storm next week i dont know what they have in mind to beat them, but whatever it is, it better be well above what they have been producing to win, in saying that, “GO THE EAGLES”
September 15th 2012 @ 10:55am
Andy said | September 15th 2012 @ 10:55am | Report comment
“Thurston wasn’t complaining when the ball was STRIPPED from Taufua (BLATANT) and very visable on TV, with the Cowboys getting a scrum feed in the Eagles half that led to a try from a METRE FORWARD pass from Thurston, no nothing said there,????.”
People seem to forget that, especially other supporters backing the Cows. The bloke stripping the ball had two attempts in the one tackle, ball security can be difficult when that happens i thought it should have been picked up as it was more than a one man tackle.
September 15th 2012 @ 11:50am
Mantis said | September 15th 2012 @ 11:50am | Report comment
Why would Thurston complain when the ball was stripped from Taufua?
I wish it had been the Cowboys who had gotten the call on those two ‘tries’, you would be singing a different tune.
September 15th 2012 @ 12:57pm
eagleJack said | September 15th 2012 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
No doubt if the Cowboys had got those 2 calls there would have been comments written along the lines of “Suck it up Manly, it happens” or “Toovey whinging again” etc etc.
Funny I recall against the Cowboys in Round 22 Manly had 2 tries disallowed for obstruction (One was 50/50 most likely a no-try and one was a definite fair try). For the fair try Daniel Anderson said at the time on ABC radio “I honestly don’t know what the refs look at”. On Foran’s knock forward last night he said the exact same thing. Yet we certainly didn’t read about the obstruction no try to such an extent the next day.
That’s because Manly put the bad decisions behind them and went onto win the match. That’s what the great sides do. From what Ive read and listened to today it appears the Cowboys were already focussing on the Storm game. That’s prob why they were so slow out of the blocks and gave up a 12 point start. They will learn from that. They are a very good side and with Tariq Sims back they will be a premiership force again next year.
September 15th 2012 @ 1:09pm
oikee said | September 15th 2012 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
I also said the cowbioys will never win a premiership, which they wont, they will never beat Manly or most Sydney teams, they dont have the money or cattle to compete, they might as well drop out and let Perth into the comp.
They cant win with 2 international props or the best half in the game, same as the Broncos wont win anything, because they could not win with Lockyer and Petro, how they ever going to win, foget it.
Better things to waste time on the way this comp is going, down the gurgler.
With the refs also against you, we might as well start up anmother superleague, at least outside Sydney teams can then compete.
September 15th 2012 @ 4:55pm
Mantis said | September 15th 2012 @ 4:55pm | Report comment
Oikee you have to be the most cynical, waste of time person going around here. how about you keep your pointless posts to yourself from now on.
And EJ, if those calls had gone against Manly there would be numerous Manly fans saying the same thing Cowboys fans are saying now. And while I agree on the no try call back in round 22 may have been wrong, it didnt cost you the season. Taufuas try was dubious at best, but I dont mind them giving it a try. The Cowboys still had some if not most of the momentum, but after giving Oldfields try and then not giving the Cowboys a dropout after Taufua grounded it, that is 3 calls in the space of about 10 minutes, all going against the Cowboys, giving Manly 10 points and all the momentum going into the last 15 mins. Had they not given Oldfields try and given the Cowboys a dropout, i.e. a full set of 6 with good field position, i think the result could have been different. Unfortunately, thanks to some terrible refereeing deicisions, we will never know.
September 15th 2012 @ 5:11pm
oikee said | September 15th 2012 @ 5:11pm | Report comment
Mantis, come on dude, how can pointless posts that i make then be written about by Australian papers the next week or two after i have posted on here. Mate, wake up and smell the roses. This blog and comments are cutting edge.
This blog was dead 2 years ago, devoid of ideas or comments. the guys who post here today are brilliant, they have great thoughts and comments.
I could go away and be happy that the rest of these guys are really thinking, really making good hay.
I know i am a pain in the butt, you dont have to tell me that.
I am not going away, i will keep this game thinking and on its toes, the least i can do.
Our game still has not got a CEO, and that is a problem, cutting edge would see the game with a Yank in charge, maybe a ex NFL ceo, or a club Ceo from the NFL.
Why worry about getting ideas from overseas if we can get someone in charge from over their, i am just putting out the ideas. A lady from the Greenbaypackers had the chance to run the Broncos, i was all for this Woman.
September 15th 2012 @ 10:58am
Din said | September 15th 2012 @ 10:58am | Report comment
Just ban benefit of the doubt. If the video isn’t clear it’s refs call
September 15th 2012 @ 12:48pm
George said | September 15th 2012 @ 12:48pm | Report comment
The game is becoming a joke with this benefit of the doubt going to the attacking team if there is any doubt at all it should go to the defending team if they can’t clearly see that it’s a try don’t give it!!! Simple as that!! And all the idiots calling manly cheats they don’t make the decision the refs do.manly were the better side by a long shot and should have put 30 on them in the first half alone.. GO YOU EAGLES!!!
September 15th 2012 @ 6:48pm
Dave said | September 15th 2012 @ 6:48pm | Report comment
spot on george,benefit of the doubt should go to the defender.If in doubt “no try”
Same as the gentlemans game “cricket” if in doubt NOt OUT. Doubt on try NO TRY.
September 15th 2012 @ 7:22pm
Mitchell said | September 15th 2012 @ 7:22pm | Report comment
Not fussed on either team but another bad call didnt change that the sea eagles were the better team.
September 15th 2012 @ 8:28pm
AL said | September 15th 2012 @ 8:28pm | Report comment
Two refs on the field? Is that still the case? Two linesmen, two refs in the video booth. Go back to one ref and make the linesmen do something else rather than run the line. All the new technology has taken away authority from the ref and everyone is second guessing them.
What happens at a grass roots level?
September 15th 2012 @ 9:35pm
Liz Wiemers said | September 15th 2012 @ 9:35pm | Report comment
I am just a lifetime league supporter who looks forward every Friday to enjoying a good game while living in AFL Territory in the NT.
The performance of the referees in last night’s Cowboys/Manly game is nearly enough for me to swap codes. If your officials cannot see then please employ referees who can…or at least some who wear glasses! I can’t say how disappointed, even disgusted I am feeling about their performance last night….and that in a final when a team’s year is on the line!
For heaven’s sake get your act together – that is if you want to keep your supporters – maybe the NRL doesn’t want to or just doesn’t care.
I have one honest question: the refs boss says an error was made, and Manly only won because of the two disputed tries, does this mean the game will be replayed? I recall at the olympics this year an athlete was given a second chance when his defeat was because of an error of another competitor. Good enough for the IOC – good enough for the NRL!
September 16th 2012 @ 4:38am
al said | September 16th 2012 @ 4:38am | Report comment
How about origin. every year when qld get a try that might be half questionable nsw go insane on how we cheat and all the rest but when they get any try regardless it always seems fair along with all the dirty plays. Its always the same shit. nsw are only happy when things go their way. Any money says if cowboys got them 2 same trys there woud have been riots with a rematch wanted.
September 16th 2012 @ 8:59am
Jasoniumh said | September 16th 2012 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Bad calls go each way. Both Foran and JT are saying they never touched it… someones lying, someones telling the truth. After watching it carefully my opinion is that JT touched it and not Foran, JT’s hand is infront of Forans and Forans hands/fingers never deviate. If Foran had contact you would expect to see tome kind of movement in his fingers/hand. Go and have a look. A close look. Anyway JT is a loud mouthed, self serving, whinging, over rated double standard of a player ever to disgrace the turf. Foran’s a top bloke incapable of doing anything wrong, even when it looks like a mistake its really a ploy to lead the opposition into a false sense of security… am I biased… HELL YES!!! GO THE MIGHTY SEA EAGLES. Would I have JT in my team? Sure we could always do with another water carrier, as long as he doesn’t whinge about the bottles being too heavy or being against him. anyway… GO MANLY!!