COWBOYS coach Paul Green is facing a $10,000 fine by the NRL after launching a savage attack on the referees in North Queensland’s 26-8 loss to the Storm.
Just a week after Dragons counterpart Paul McGregor was hit with a breach notice for blasting match officials, Green is sure to be the next coach in the sights of the NRL after his stunning post-match tirade.
The Cowboys coach lashed Ashley Klein and Alan Shortall, claiming fans were dudded by a refereeing performance he labelled the worst he had ever seen.
In one puzzling moment, Cowboys halfback Michael Morgan was denied an early try after he picked up the scraps from a high kick which appeared to go backwards after teammate Lachlan Coote soared high.
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The referees called Morgan back, ruling Coote knocked on to the dismay of North Queensland players.
Green said the Storm were clearly the better team but within seconds of praising the courage of his players, he changed tack to hammer the match officials.
“That was the worst refereeing display I have ever seen,” he said.
Cowboys coach Paul Green. File photoSource: News Corp Australia“There were some calls,” he added, shaking his head, “where they lacked consistency.
“I’m not one to shift the blame away from our performance, but the fans deserved more than that.
“There were two quality teams out there and I was left scratching my head at some of the calls.
“I said to the boys after the game I’ve never been involved in a game where so many things have gone against us ... it’s just a shame the refs ruined the game.”
Of Morgan’s no-try, Green scoffed: “Backwards is backwards isn’t it? Big calls in big games can swing possession.”
Storm skipper Cameron Smith said he was surprised by the referees’ application of the 10-metre rule.
“They were into us with the 10 metres and leaving (the line) early,” he said.
“I don’t know if they are cracking down on that, it wasn’t something I felt I did differently to any other game this year.
“That was directed at me. But as far as the refereeing and the overall consistency, I didn’t see any major issues.”
Replies
If anything i thought the refs tried to get the Cows back into it, but it was good to see the refs pull the Storm up for being constantly offside. Long may it continue.
After watching Klein manufacture a win for the Storm I will chip in to help pay this fine.
After watching the shear arrogance of the Storm rubbing everyone's noses in their shyt by celebrating their 2007 CHEATED GF win you can bet the NRL will make them 2017 premiers.
One of the most courageous losses encountered by the Cowboys in the history of the game.
Klein should NEVER be allowed to ref another game - BUT the Turd at the top will continue to bully clubs to get what he wants.
I remember talking to Nathan Cayless in the off season over 10 years ago now and i asked him had we signed anyone for next season. He was really excited that we had signed Paul Green and thought he may have been the answer to our halfback problem. Lol Next!!
Paul Green was actually a pretty handy player
And penalised or made manufactured calls against the Cows when it hurt them most.
It is not how many penalties - it is WHERE and WHEN that influences the outcome.
Knock on called as Cows crossed the line from a pass that clearly went BACKWARDS into a Storm player who knocked it over the try line to be regathered by Cows.
One knock on plus a forward pass, both of which DID NOT HAPPEN, denied Cows from scoring legitimate tries.
Sorry mate - Storm have won the 2017 GF already.