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.
peeeko
Roar Guru
WHo says the cowboys were dudded last year anyway? they lost the match 22-12 to manly with a terrible decision to foran but they were also the recipients of a try because of terrible decision from memory?
peeeko
Roar Guru
I am still trying to work how if the NRL wants a Roosters v rabbits GF, then getting rid of the cowboys helps?
Leftrightout
Guest
This is the most blatant case of whinging I have seen from a footy team! It happened in the first 10mins not the last minute, it didn't decide the game and maybe, just maybe the other team where better on the day. To cry conspiracy is almost like saying 'we are the best team in the comp and the only way to beat us is to cheat'. Cry me a river. It was human error end of story.
Bigjohn
Guest
Shocking refs and a woman in the Cabinet. It's been a bad week.
Bigjohn
Guest
And yet despite the threat to sue Meninga, nothing happened. Both parties had a little meeting and it all went away, just as everyone knew it would. Any decent solicitor would have told the match review committee, that if they proceeded with the prosecution , they would have to justify every decision they had made, and the NRL would never allow that to happen.
john badseed
Guest
It happens- eg. minichello last week
Magnus
Guest
I doubt there is a conspiracy theory (the Lincoln assassination was a conspiracy) but Gallop used to go on about how the NRL had close exciting games so any aspiring referee would read between the lines that that is what the NRL and TV want... Masters has written about how Shane Hayne favours Souths and like close games but surprisingly Hayne isn't suing!!?? http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/refs-dont-know-rs-from-their-elbows-20130915-2tswt.html The Press writes up the Souths v easts rivalry as if it is the greatest thing in the world so naturally refs might be inclined to think that's what HO wants. The press writes about how Sydney teams guarantee good TV numbers so again there is a thought in their mind that's what HO wants. I had forgotten Tooveys rant came after a Hayne Souths match Its like newspapers- they are not biased but they hire and print stuff from those guys that smell the breeze and write stuff that suits the proprietors interests... BTW I too am shocked that there is a woman in Abbotts Cabinet..
john badseed
Guest
Silver Sov-2007,2009? Streets still safe
Lang Park Graveyard
Guest
Hey Chris, while the hodges try was dubious the inglis try was legit. In the motion of planting the ball for a try a defender cannot use his feet to play at the 'carried' ball, which farah clearly did, albeit a split second reflex action. Perhaps the correct ruling could have been a knock-on as you say but that then would have resulted in a penalty try, as inglis was deprived a try scoring opportunity over the try line by illegal play.
Lang Park Graveyard
Guest
You fishin' for a bite there renegade? Well the float just bobbed & disappeared & the drag on your reel is smokin'... 8 IN A ROW!
catcat
Guest
Argentina had the Hand of God, Cronulla has the Count of Cecchin.....
Chris Martin
Roar Rookie
Yeah I guess JT forgot that Inglis knocked the ball on last year in Origin to win the game then Hodges Shepherd was missed as well that handed them the series.
V.O.R.
Guest
"they do have to just get over it" - Easy to say from the grandstand "the league is always trying to appease the Queenslanders" - yep, a statement that completely discredits your contribution. V.O.R.
Dan
Guest
Maybe, maybe not. If the ref had called tackle 5 one tackle earlier the Sharks may have rallied then and run through all those Cowboys "defenders". Point is you just don't know how the game would have gone if it didn't happen, because it would change everything about the game.
Dayer
Guest
wake up Dan, if it wasn't for the that extra tackle the Sharks don't score ..... Simple, don't you think?.
Wozza
Guest
Wally Lewis V Mark Geyer was a typical example of this ....Ohhhhhhh he's hurting us ,,, I don't want him to play rough send him off ...boo hoo
Chris Martin
Roar Rookie
I find it amazing that JT , one of the most respected players in the game , can accuse match officials and the eintire game of match fixing in the media , yet he wont be sanctioned and he is defended by his club. Remember the match review committee sued Meninga for defamation , surely this is even worse than that. The NRL should suspend him for bringing the game into disrepute. http://www.nrl.com/match-review-committee-to-sue-meninga/tabid/10874/newsid/63803/default.aspx
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Actually, other teams are dudded by bad refereeing decisions all the time, and they do have to just get over it, and if someone comes out in the post match press conference and says things about the referees deliberately being against them or anything like that, they get slapped with a fine for bringing the game into disrepute. The only double standards to do with them being from Queensland will be if they allow them to get away without giving them the same fine they'd give anyone from any other team who made a similar comment. Far from being biased towards NSW, the league is always trying to appease the Queenslanders.
Dan
Guest
You're not capable of reason or perspective, are you Oikee? Bad refereeing decisions have happened forever and will continue to happen. Just because on this occasion it has hurt - god forbid - a team from the glorious and perfect state of queensland you think the f!#@$ing world has ended! Grow up and pull your head in mate! It's sport! Bad decisions are a fact of life. I mean heck, Rugby is my main game and we have had WAY worse howlers than that effecting results just this year. Go watch the Springboks v All Blacks match if you want proof.
oikee
Guest
The code is rewarding wrong. Bad goes unpunished so close enough good enough rules. Telling people to get over it is a easy out. Lets do wrong, get over it, nice way to bring up the next generation, no wonder the kids are running the roost.