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Despite claiming it was time to move on from their bitter NRL finals exit, North Queensland boss Peter Jourdain stoked more controversy by endorsing Johnathan Thurston’s sensational conspiracy theory.
And Jourdain said the NRL should not fine the club for Thurston’s rant because they were entitled to be emotional over the weekend 20-18 elimination final loss marred by Cronulla’s seventh-tackle try.
Thurston – the Test and Maroons pivot – remarkably claimed on Sunday that the Cowboys were paying the price for Queensland’s eight straight State of Origin series wins in a Sydney-centric NRL.
The seven tackle debacle marked the second straight year North Queensland had their finals run dashed by a refereeing howler.
“I can understand what he is thinking,” Jourdain told AAP.
“And for us to be dudded two years in a row it is easy to see where he is coming from.
“I have no problem with it (Thurston’s call) at all.
“Johnathan has put so much into the game on and off the field I think he is entitled to say it if that is how he feels.”
His stance flew in the face of a Cowboys statement released on Monday calling for closure after Jourdain met with NRL boss Dave Smith in Sydney on a number of issues.
Thousands of supporters registered on an on-line petition to get the Cowboys back into the finals after Queensland politician Scott Emerson claimed the NRL should reverse the result.
The Cowboys were also angry over the lack of post-match security at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium after claiming their players were abused and manhandled by Sharks supporters.
However, Jourdain said in the statement that while he understood the post-match emotion the club would abide by the weekend result after Smith ruled out the prospect of a re-match and that the club would now focus on 2014.
“I received assurances from Dave that the matters are being investigated and appropriate action will be taken by the NRL,” Jourdain said in the statement.
“The Cowboys will, of course, abide by the decisions made on the field on Saturday, even though there was a clear error in the first half that has been admitted to by the NRL.
“We will now be turning our focus to the 2014 season when we again expect to be fighting for the premiership.”
But Jourdain told AAP he did not know how long it would take to get over the latest controversy.
“We are entitled to be emotional about it for a period of time,” he said.
“I don’t think they (NRL) will be able to do anything that will satisfy us.
“They will be taking some action, they have not told us what.
“We all have to (move on) at some stage. Some people do it quicker than others.”
Jourdain said at no stage on Monday did Smith mention the prospect of fines – news expected to baffle the likes of Manly coach Geoff Toovey who was pinged $10,000 for a recent tirade against referees.
“I don’t think it is surprising that some of those things were said as emotions were high,” Jourdain told AAP.
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