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Bucked Cowboys blinded by anger

16th September, 2013
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Don't say no to Thursto! (Image: AAP)
Expert
16th September, 2013
245
2116 Reads

What happened to the North Queensland Cowboys was unacceptable. The moment Beau Ryan scored the infamous seventh tackle try, the momentum of the match altered.

We can all agree this human error from the two on-field officials is the cherry on top of a miserable season for Daniel Anderson’s men.

But this mistake is conceivable. These two referees made an error.

The Cowboys are well within their rights to be furious, but there is a difference between Henry Perenara and Matt Cecchin’s howler on Saturday afternoon and everything else that has been happening to our game.

That might be hard to stomach for North Queensland supporters. All fans expect a consistently reasonable level of officiating. Sometimes mistakes happen – it’s part of being human.

What happened to the Cowboys might not be Anderson’s fault – he wasn’t on the field at Allianz Stadium after all – but the growing upheaval from supporters and experts who are confused and angry at the current product might just be the final nail in the coffin for Anderson.

His time is up.

The game is rife with inexplicable penalties. Players are milking for anything and everything and real rugby league fans are at their wits’ end.

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Volvo driving football mums are getting their way at the expense of the majority who are repulsed by the road our game is travelling down.

Saturday was it for Anderson.

But let’s not burn Perenara and Cecchin. A mistake is a mistake.

For North Queensland players and fans to say there is a conspiracy against non-Sydney sides is obscene, almost insane.

Remember that since 1998 the NRL has been intent on building the game.

Three of Sydney’s greatest clubs are gone from the competition for the sake of rugby league. Ask Western Suburbs, Balmain or North Sydney if they think the NRL are in Sydney’s corner.

An enraged Johnathan Thurston let fly at Townsville Airport after the loss.

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“One-hundred percent there is a bias towards Sydney… 100 percent,” Thurston said.

“Sydney and NSW haven’t won anything for that long, we’ve won all these Origin series, of course that (an all-Sydney grand final) is what they want.

“To be honest, I hope Melbourne win it, I really hope Melbourne win it.

“I just can’t stand Sydney mate.

“I’m still shattered about what’s happened. We’re the ones going home with our tails between our legs yet again.

“Two years in a row we have been dudded by the NRL’s referees.”

Sorry Mr Thurston, but you’re just downright wrong.

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There is plenty wrong with the way this game is controlled but there is no bias against Queenslanders or your Cowboys.

The players on-field had no idea at the time that they had been screwed.

Remember that they had 72 minutes to win the game too.

Give us a break. Nobody is saying the better team won.

But nobody is saying the better team lost either.

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