Johnathan Thurston has every right to be filthy after the Cowboys 31-30 loss to the Roosters at Allianz last night.
The brilliant Cowboys captain, heading for a third Dally M, and a third Golden Boot, scored what would have been the match-winning try with a minute left on the clock.
Senior ref Shayne Hayne was going to award the try until second ref Gavin Badger suggested there was a hint of a forward pass, or knock on, from Robert Lui in the lead-up.
Video ref Bernard Sutton replayed and replayed the incident from 45 degrees at the back of the play, hardly a positive angle, and certainly not conclusive.
Yet he agreed with Badger, and the Cowboys bowed out of the finals.
The “pass” or “knock on” was flat or line ball at worst, leaving Thurston, by far the best player on the park, speechless.
“I’m going to say something stupid, and I’ll regret it,” were his first post-match words.
He was filthy alright, and I don’t blame him.
“Thanks VB, and thanks Channel 9,” were his last words after accepting his man-of-the-match award, then wheeled 180 degrees and disappeared behind the dressing room door.
But what a game.
When the Roosters led 30-nil in 31 minutes, only a Johnathan Thurston would have given his Cowboys a ghost of a chance to even get back in the game, let alone win it.
But 25 playing minutes later the scoreboard told the sensational Cowboy comeback story at 30-all.
Thurston was in everything, cajoling, inspiring, and scoring a try in the process, leaving Sonny Bill Williams grasping at thin air.
During the Cowboy comeback period, Thurston was twice belatedly and heavily tackled late by Aidan Guerra after clearing down-field.
Where was Badger when that happened?
In the wash-up that Sutton video decision leaves a bad taste, so too the refereeing decisions throughout a magnificent game of rugby league.
Thurston was the undisputed standout in a losing side, ably supported by Matt Scott, and the big bloke Jason Taumalolo.
The Roosters best was James Maloney, while Sam Moa, and Sonny Bill got through a heap of work.
But the Cowboys were the best side on the night.
robby
Guest
you are considered a roar expert man you have no idea but then again your a cows supporter never to win a comp in your life time - how does that sound david lord or should i say lordy lordy you talk crap
Kepu
Guest
Funny Bellamy asked for the same salary cap relief because they are nearly all imports. Most of Sydneys players are importsand ahve to live in the east so COLA is relevant but being replaced by rent allowance. You quoted FTA AFL/NRL numbers somewhere but of course neglected to mention the 500K that watched Hawks/Port on Fox on a Saturday twilight. You continue to only tell half the story so i assume it is deliberate
Jon
Guest
Re: your Matt Scott fantasy... Matt Scott can strip the ball in the act of scoring, but only when the attacking player is over the line. There were 3 options for the referees in this instance 1. Let SBW play the ball, a decision we see on a weekly basis in the NRL. 2. Penalise Matt Scott, if SBW was short when the ball was stripped 3. Line drop-out, if they were considered to be in-goal No option favoured the Cowboys. But playing the ball was the most accurate. - Eagle
Peter
Guest
I couldn't careless anymore. I've said what I had to say. Enough said. Go bunnies knock the roosters out 13+. Lol :)
Jon
Guest
Lui knocked on mate. Just accept it. I'm starting to feel embarrassed for you. This 'conspiracy', as you like to call it, is ridiculous. The NRL is in fact, 'Sydney-centric', mainly because 9/16 teams are from Sydney. Have you considered writing a letter to the NRL suggesting they relocate the hub of their operations to Townsville? I recommend that you do this. 31-30 Joel, dont be a sore loser.
Peter
Guest
What annoys me is that the tough judge that called the knock on, wasn't even in line with the the play. You can't call knock on from 5-7 metres away. Especially from behind the play. it always looks like a knock on from there. Just shut up and let the play go and then go upstairs for the decision. I bet if Shayne Hayne said Try then the video Refs would of awarded it. Then their would of been roosters supporters complaining on here instead of cowboys fans. Wake up guys !!!
Joel
Guest
Good one Jack, that makes it an illegal hit anyway for tackle in the air, NSW idiocy at it best.....
Joel
Guest
Jack is Morgan taken out late by Guerra after the chip kick leaving a gaping hole for Pearce to run through scoring the first try, is that the momentum swing your talking about? similar to a line ball 50/50 forward pass type of momentum swing.
Joel
Guest
Forwards start to get on top with late hits on Thurston and Simms that arn't called by Spray Tan .... darling chickens of the N(SW)RL, can't win a game without the ref, can't win a GF against Manly without the Ref...
Joel
Guest
Alvin, check your pulse ...
Joel
Guest
Oh' yea, and also missed the forward pass to SBW .....
Joel
Guest
Thats all you got lol, here is a list in the last 5 min against them, and this an't the whole match ... Hayne missed a 100% sheppard, called a 50/50 penalty to the roosters against Linnet, The ball is relinquished from SBW to Matt Scott in the field of play should have been Scott play the ball another 50/50 to Roosters, Then calls a no try on a 50/50 against the attacking team which the Vid ref was unable to overturn through should have been called Try. With advantage to the attacking team, the correct call for Hayne was try, Vid Ref check for knock on.... Roosters were blowen off the park in the last 10 and first 20 of the second half, your point is? You call it conspiracy, I call it N(SW)RL Sydneycentric! "Every team needs to overcome adversity if they want to win a premiership." lol, except for Roosters against Manly last year where the Ref handed it to them on a platter .... And yea, I am fighting the adversity for the Cows now Jon. Embarrassing to support the darling of the N(SW)RL chickens.
harry Wells
Guest
The NRL not being on Fox live is irrelevant to the fact that you omitted a % of the Fox viewers to the total AFL viewers and that you omitted to mention the Storm game had no AFL competition whereas the Swans game had NRL competition. 4PM is a time when a lot more people are at home than 2PM which is why likewise the AFL played last Saturday at 4.40 was the point. It finished in the early evening.. This is also why the NRL continues to play the GF at evening or night to boost ratings hence the poor comparison of a Saturday arvo 3PM start will get you less than Sunday night at 6PM or later...Gyngell can explain it to you..To show you lost the battle you wish to now throw in the regionals where NRL rates much better per capita than the cities but less relevant to the network owners because their stations don't cover the country regionals though I think Nine now owns NBN.in northern NSW
Kepu
Guest
The regionals would add to the total no doubt but arvo games rate less than evening games
Freddy
Guest
mmm Roosters 31 Cowboys 30 - must have been watching a different game- it was a knock on NO TRY - the onfield officals said no try and video refs said no try - dont know how clear this could be
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
If the NRL wanted a team in the grand Final, they'd manufacture the comp the way the AFL does and do a COLA. But they don't, anyone can win at this stage.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Well well harry Wells once again, how can I give live Fox sports ratings for NRL finals when they don't exist? We'll add regional if that helps and you'll find both NRL games outrated AFL on FTA. That is fact. I'd like to compare Foxsports ratings but until that happens for NRL finals, we'll have to leave that for another day. So does Sunday evening start at 4pm in Melbourne these days? get it right please
Tom
Guest
The Sheek was watching great kicking displays from a recent bore fest called rugby union and fell asleep which is the reason why he didnt watch the rugby league.
Tom
Guest
Mike said..."The NRL, TV commentators and journos needs to do more to defend the refs – rather than jumping on the bandwagon of emotional, uninformed public opinion". Never a truer word has been spoken. The lack of respect paid to the refs by the players especially is just plain disgusting. The same old excuses are pumped out by coaches and players every week pointing their fingure at referees decisions rather than the poor defence of their own players or poor coaching. Toovey after the game again did it blaming the refs instead of the lack of team discipline of his team letting the dogs race out to a 16 point lead. Refs make mistakes yeah, but the clubs and NRL need to hit these coaches with fines and players who constantly exhibit very poor behaviour towards any decision they seem to disagree with.
Harry wells
Guest
Surprise Surprise Cathar always telling half the story. The NRL got 114K in Melbourne for a Storm game on a Sunday evening when most people are home and there was nil AFL on in competition whereas the AFL in Sydney was competing against the NRL and of course you didnt add in a portion of the 400K watching the Swans on paY Tt. CT for once just once give the whole story