A devastated Johnathan Thurston struggled to contain his emotions after the North Queensland Cowboys were knocked out of the NRL finals for a third consecutive year amid extraordinary controversy.
Calls of a Sydney conspiracy will again be ringing loud in Townsville after the video referee said no to a spectacular Thurston try in the final minute which would have sunk the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
The red `No Try’ flashed up and it was the Roosters prevailing 31-30 in another epic thriller.
In 2012, the Cowboys were dudded by the so-called `Hand of God’ moment where Manly got away with Kieran Foran clearly knocking the ball forward for a try.
Last season, Cronulla scored a try in their dramatic victory on the seventh tackle of a set.
On Friday night, after coming back from the dead at 30-0 down, the Cowboys were once again given reason to blame the officials.
This one appeared 50-50, with Cowboys halfback Robert Lui getting an arm to an errant pass from Kyle Feldt.
According to Phil Gould and Wally Lewis in the commentary box it went back, but the officials ruled it went forward.
Thurston’s chances of leading the Cowboys to a maiden grand final before he retires are getting longer and longer.
He was too shocked to talk at fulltime.
“Umm, arggh. I’m going to say something stupid, I’ll regret it,” said Thurston on Channel Nine.
When Gorden Tallis asked him about conspiracy, Thurston bit his tongue.
“Honestly I’m just speechless,” he said.
“It just wasn’t good enough in the end obviously.”
Gould was more to the point.
“For a long time in rugby league, that’s not a knock-on.”
It wasn’t the only controversial moment of the dying stages either.
In the direct lead-up to the James Maloney field goal, referees gave a penalty to the Roosters when Sonny Bill Williams appeared to lose it cold.
Then a clear forward pass from Roosters No.9 Jake Friend was missed.
Thurston won a grand final with Canterbury in 2004, as a bench player.
But for one of the greatest players of the modern era, he’s desperate to play the leading role in a premiership triumph.
His prospects of joining league’s immortals may depend on it.
Clark
Guest
How do you know they are under?
Joel
Guest
and if you think it was 50/50 then advantage should have gone to the attacking team, Thurston Try, but no, we are playing in Sydney, against the darling chickens of the N(SW)RL
Joel
Guest
what a crock of crap if I have ever herd it soapit, believe it or bull$#!^ almost as good as the old the ball is allowed to float forward only if it looks to come out of the hands backwards, SOO in the late ninties early 2000's were won on that crock from NSW, balls floating forward 10 meters. Oh' wait, thats right, we are talking about the N(SW)RL sydneycentric rule book, I haven't seen that one.
Joel
Guest
omg, yea good one on the comeback ....? That is why Gus Gould was saying in the commentary it has been called a knock back for years .. soapit please, you got nothing. Still waiting for the proof that it was a knock on ...
Griggso
Guest
OK, you blokes can read that into my comments if you like. My point is, if you don't like the refereeing then your only real option is to remove them from the equation. To do that your team needs to be so much better than the opposition that even when 50/50 and contentious decisions go against you, you still win.
soapit
Guest
maybe qld should just cut their losses with league and focus on success in sports that less people play?
soapit
Guest
you are. BAM! its a shame this is your first time watching league. if you see a bit more of it you'll gain a better understanding of how the knock on rule is consistently applied and maybe feel better about what happened last night.
Quitwhinging
Guest
obviously a roosters fanboy mate...
Adam
Guest
No, all teams benefit from officials making mistakes, but sometimes there are calls which are close. I am saying if it were Souths racing away to score in the 80th minute for the win after coming from 30-0 down in a finals match, that try is allowed and their isn't a single question about it. Because if Souths are going well, so is rugby league apparently. Seriously, it is impossible for humans to be 100% objective 100% of the time and I think, if that is Souths, in Sydney, the self implied pressure is hit green light, avoid controversy and everyone focuses on Souths, not the official.
Joel
Guest
and the 5 tries the darling N(SW)RL chickens let in ....lol which means it all comes back to the Lui knock back, read the post mate, and don't waste my time with are counter argument of "you are" .. if you have some proof of the ball going forward, where is it, if you can't prove it, the advantage goes to the attacking team, if you call it a forward pass, the Vid ref can not rule on forward passes.
Benny
Guest
Cows didnt dominate the last 20 minutes, that was even
Cadfael
Roar Guru
But that is the whole point. Now games are decided on what the referee rules, much more so than in the past. In days gone bye if a referee made a mistake, a team could win the ball back in the play the ball, stripping the ball in the tackle (not often done because players appreciated ball security) and scrums. With competing for the ball all but legislated our of rugby league, any mistake a referee makes can be (and often is) game changing. There were complaints on both sides about tries being scored from forward passes. Two points, where were the touch judges and why can't the video ref rule on forward passes. It has worked well in rugby union where they don't have as many lines across the field to help.
soapit
Guest
it also comes back to the 5 tries nth qld let in but then it might make them look at themselves instead of someone else which isnt always easy
Jay C
Roar Guru
Fatty was barely out of diapers when the rot began. Admittedly he was in his teens. But my comment remains sound.
The Barry
Guest
A knock on is off any part of the hand or arm. Bicep is part of the arm I'm pretty sure.
The Barry
Guest
Come on Jay C fatty started all that cheering in the commentary box...
KB
Guest
Con, the fighting " cock " fights to the death..and this little red rooster is not too lazy to crow today..da da da da
Jackson Henry
Guest
Unfortunately you are right JC. Watch any Origin from 1980-1992 and you'll see for yourself. A bit embarrassing, to put it incredibly mildly. Rabs was the worst, surprisingly. NSW was always "we". And this was the main caller on the only channel that had the Origin (!)
Daniel Healy
Guest
Sorry Sorry the ball was deflected off a cowboy bicep whilst his arm was facing towards his own goal, the ball has not gone forward, nor has it gone backwards, but then rolls forward as Thurston scoops it up and splits 4 players and the ref to win the game for the cowboys. How can one call a deflection off someones bicep a knock on particularly when it was not conclusive that the ball was sent forward from that incidental contact. Very upset that NSW officials have again gone against a queensland team in such a controversial manner. If they truly want their sport to gain respect then they need to train some officials up to be totally unbias. I can not imagine how disappointed that Johnathon would be today. He held his high and copped it on the chin, the mark of a true champion. No point in disputing, but we the public know that the NRL has serious issues if they can get it wrong on so many occassions. I would not have cared if the roosters had of beaten the cowboys by 20 points, we could have said they were the better team, but the loser here in my eyes is not the COWBOYS ITS NRL. So many officials plus video evidence are you kidding us as spectators of sport to accept such poor officiating. We pay for your product, if you want to be treated serious as a sporting body get yourselves in order, have a look at how the AFL have truly expanded and accepted all states into their competition. They are light years ahead of you guys. Back Yard NRL.
Jackson Henry
Guest
Corey Parker ahead of both, all day, every day, every year.