NRL boss Dave Smith was forced to apologise for an embarrassing refereeing blunder that had North Queensland coach Neil Henry suggesting a Sydney conspiracy as the Cowboys were controversially dumped out of the NRL finals on Saturday with a 20-18 loss to Cronulla.
For the second year in a row, the Cowboys were dudded by the officials after the Sharks scored a try on the seventh tackle, the drama taking away from an epic contest not decided until the video referee denied Kane Kinnett a last-minute try.
Even that was tinged with controversy with the clock left stranded on 41 seconds to go as the Cowboys launched a last-ditch bid – but it was the extra tackle granted the Sharks when Beau Ryan crossed on eight minutes that had Henry seeing red.
As if being let down by the officials once is not bad enough – it comes after the Cowboys were also on the end of a video referee howler on the same ground last year with a missed Kieran Foran knock-on that cost them a win.
“How can two men, experienced full-time referees, two touch judges, two blokes up in a video box not be counting,” Henry said.
“We’re all well aware that we had chances in the game after that to make that up – but it astounds me that it happened.
“You expect the players to perform on the biggest stage … well, your referees have got to perform too and they’ve proven a couple of years in row now they’re not up to it.
“It’s embarrassing for the game, and I got that from the top – they’re embarrassed … it doesn’t give us a game next week.”
That wasn’t the end of Henry’s measured rant.
“If you were (a believer of) a conspiracy theory, you’d go hang on – they’re so Sydney-centric here, they don’t really care about the boys up north.
“The press talks about the ideal grand final – Souths-Roosters – bring it on.
“Yeah, well we’ve just been dudded of the opportunity to make a dent in this competition.
“You get a bit bitter about it when it’s happened two years in a row.
Sharks’ skipper Paul Gallen played down the impact of the incident on the result.
“It’s part of the game; the Cowboys didn’t stop trying to defend it,” Gallen said.
“Unfortunate for them – about time we had a bit of luck.”
They might have had luck, but there was plenty of courage as well, the Sharks out on their feet when the game seemed lost as they trailed 18-12 after two quick tries to the Cowboys – including a momentum-changing 95m intercept to Wayne Ulugia.
Sam Tagataese finished off some fine work from Luke Lewis and Michael Gordon to cut the deficit to two – with Gordon missing a simple conversion that could have proved costly.
It didn’t, despite Todd Carney’s hamstring going on him again.
Jeff Robson stepped up to the plate with an ugly but effective pass for Sosaia Feki – whose knock-on in the second minute led to the Cowboys’ opening try – as he slid over in the corner to give his side a lead seven minutes from time.
They didn’t let it go, thanks largely to a John Morris try-saver on Linnett in the final minute which seemingly went forever.
Ken
Guest
Shane Hayne hates the storm ,every game he just screws us blatantly ,if he refs another storm finals game we will lose again...FYI him penalising us 5 times in a row ...than trying to even it up later on in the game is a disgrace.
Meesta Cool
Guest
I will voice my genuine opinion, 1st minute OR last minute = 4 or six points.. no difference, it still means that the other team could lose unfairly (Not within the guidelines of the rulebook), Once again I say.. The score should have been corrected once the mistake was noticed!. or at a special meeting at half time.. Get real!.
Scott Minto
Guest
Also if his team was more consistent he'd have a better chance of winning the premiership. Should have won more games early in the season to get into the top 4.
Chris morrison
Guest
An extremely tough call for the cowboys. It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth to see the sharks win like that. Got dudded last year also against manly which makes things even tougher.... But I do not believe there is any truth to a conspiracy theory that souths and roosters are getting a leg up to a grand final and these are the reasons why... The roosters are the most penalised team in the competition by a country mile. I think after the manly game on the weekend they are now the most penalised team in one season in the history of the game! If you ask me that's a very funny way to give a team a leg up to a possible grand final! Souths similarly have had a rough trot all season with Penalty counts and terrible decisions against them. Including multiple games conceding 10 penalties in a row to an opposition. They had a couple of calls go their way in the storm game on the weekend such as the held up call where it appeared that the ball may have touched the ground at some stage even though you couldn't see the ball and the billy slater second try where chambers bumps Merritt in the air and then when Merritt turns to chase the spilt ball grabs his leg to stop him getting a chance to hit it dead. Both 50/50 calls at best and souths got the call on those occasions. Hardly a reason to call it a conspiracy. The storms 1st try to billy slater appeared to be an obstruction when a decoy runner ran through and knocked inglis to the ground that call too was 50/50 at best and storm got the call on that occasion. The truth of the matter is simple....the refereeing standards need some serious attention. Tony archer is the only referree in recent history that was any good. The mistakes that are being made are ridiculous. But the mistakes are happening to all the teams.
Renegade
Guest
+1 Absolutely incredible.
Renegade
Guest
"Cronulla fans showed their best side by gutter mouthing the Cowboy players" Turn it up... your posts are getting more ridiculous than the refereeing error mate. I'm not sure when this happened but there's a small minority group in all supporter bases that unfortunately carry on and lack respect.... hardly a first.
the spectator
Guest
Plus the first half try off a knock on I think for the cowboys in that semi do if all is fixed manly led start to finish never in trouble(I was there) correct game had 3 try's to 1 Manly's way. I feel for the fans as Toov' and any other Manly fan got bagged and rubbished now what! Who gives tooves his money back, Greenburg?
Josho
Guest
Watch the game back they gave cowboys extra tackle at the 70.40 mark, they knocked on after 5 but you can hear the ref call three twice. They were on their way to 7 tackles as they incorrectly called it zero tackle off the gallen grubbed.
belrose eagle
Guest
I don't think there was any conspiracy but the fact remains no matter when it was scored take those 4 points away cowboys win to me its just as bad as if the refs just awarded that last second no try as a try then the cowboys win off a try that shouldn't have been either
belrose eagle
Guest
Do you think if matai had grabbed Sammy b s balls he would have got two weeks ?do you think if watmough twisted inglis knee as lima did he would have got 1 week? even billy slater would have be suspended for the attempted knee then kick then to top if off face slap/slam but because he plays for souths zero not to mention the eye gouge the refs the other night were a disgrace and I hate melb one side was reffed the other had free reign WHEN IT COUNTED all anyone wants is equal chances 4 all teams and it seems this year things are slanted to give souths an easy ride in more ways then one
V.O.R.
Guest
Maybe we should start keeping stats on how many sets the refs complete without an error? ;)
V.O.R.
Guest
23,163 conspiracy theorists and counting.........or perhaps just disgruntled fans who know they have been duped in the semi's 2 years running.....I just love the Sydney Centric bubble....good fodder for 9 in a row. ;)
muzz
Guest
so true SVB
muzz
Guest
ridiculous...if its so rigged, why so many broncos and storm premierships? Why qld dominance in SOO? Did you know Lee Harvey Oswald is on the NRL payroll? Grow up
Slim
Guest
It is human nature to take care of your own. The Cowboys are from another state. Of course they wont get the rub of the green. The main problem with the Sydney-centric modus operandi is that it's destroying the game, stunting it rather than allowing to grow and prosper. Neutrals, such as myself, don't want to see this sort of thing happening, but the numpties in head office want it their way, and their way only. Crowd figures alone are a fair indicator. The NRL will have to continue giving away tickets to bump up the attendances as sensible minded fans choose other sports. It was good while it lasted, but the death knell can be heard above the Bondi bleating.
muzz
Guest
Can we please replay the 99 grand final too. Keep doing this until dragons get up. Thanks
muzz
Guest
surely VOR doesnt stand for voice of reason???
muzz
Guest
Yes ur right. The cows never made any errors, missed any tackles or made any poor decisions. The players were perfect so we should expect perfection from referees......bahahahaha. Replay the game!!! Grand inquisition!! Parliamentary inquiry!!
muzz
Guest
Ah Queenslanders...you do love your conspiracy theories! Hahaha
Rick Karaitiana
Guest
Yes Matt, I am a Storm supporter and congratulations on the Rabbits win, I bet they (Rabbits) hope they have the same referee and video ref. for future games, its a shame when referee's can control the out come of games, 5 penalties in 5 minutes that must be a World record, disappointed in some of the decisions, do referees have a bit of a flutter on games! no I don't think so, but maybe a Bunnies, Roosters Grand Final ! curtsy of the NRL.