The Manly Sea Eagles have beaten the North Queensland Cowboys 26-21 in a controversial thriller

A SERIOUSLY questionable decision by video referees conspired to help Manly to a controversial win over the Cowboys on the Central Coast.

DUDDED. There must be an investigation.

North Queensland have been robbed by dubious officials for the third time in as many seasons with a seriously questionable decision by video referees conspiring to help Manly to a 26-21 victory at Central Coast Stadium last night.

It was a return to the scene of Manly coach Geoff Toovey’s infamous “investigation” explosion, but last night it was Johnathan Thurston and the Cowboys seeing red because officials delivered perhaps the howler of the season.

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News_Image_File: Johnathan Thurston speaks to team mates after Manly scores a try.

The Cowboys led 20-10 with 13 minutes remaining but somehow left Gosford with their season teetering at 2-5 after another incompetent display by officials who failed to rule on the most obvious obstruction play of the season.

Video referees Bernard Sutton and Paul Mellor awarded Kieran Foran a try in the 72nd minute to level scores 20-all despite an obvious obstruction where Ray Thompson was impeded by decoy runner Jamie Buhrer.

“He definitely ran into him and took him out,” fumed Thurston to the referees.

News_Image_File: Manly celebrates a Jamie Buhrer try to put them into the lead.

“That is not good enough.”

Thurston responded to put North Queensland ahead 21-20 with a 30m field goal in the 75th minute, but the Cowboys then blew it by conceding a try to Buhrer two minutes later.

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While coach Paul Green will be devastated his men couldn’t ice the game once Thurston put them one-point ahead, the fact is Manly were awarded a try that should never have been given the green light.

Even with their star playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans watching from the sidelines, Manly had the composure to pull a win out of nothing and must surely be among the premiership favourites for their never-say-die attitude.

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News_Image_File: Brent Tate scores for the Cowboys.

It was a case of so close yet so far for Green’s men, who for all but the last 15 minutes looked like a team capable of really doing something this season.

It was like their mojo had returned, with Thurston putting on a superb first half display to set up three tries in 11 minutes and give his side a 14-6 half-time advantage.

With Test and Origin season just around the corner, was there ever any doubt Thurston would rediscover his best?

The reigning Golden Boot winner played with the confidence and creativity that has seen him claim every individual award under the sun in his stellar career.

News_Image_File: Jorge Taufua is tackled by the Cowboys defence.

With a slick new haircut and cleanly shaved face, Thurston looked like the playmaker of old and not the frustrated star who’d struggled to have his usual impact over the opening six weeks.

Brent Tate bagged a double, debutant winger Curtis Rona impressed with a try, fullback Michael Morgan had some sharp touches and North Queensland’s forwards were again the dominant pack on the field.

Yet, somehow, they lost.

Manly are like a cockroach, they can’t be killed.

News_Image_File: Brent Tate celebrates after scoring his second try.

An 80m play by Brett Stewart and Jorge Taufau dragged them back within reach in the 67th minute before Foran stepped over for the controversial play of the night.

In the end Manly won because they had the composure at the back end of the night. They held on for dear life for the first 60 minutes, then somehow came up with the big plays that mattered most.

And although they were enabled by the video referees, you get the feeling Manly are again fighting for the premiership this season and it’s something the Cowboys can only ever dream about.

MANLY 26 (J Taufua 2 J Buhrer K Foran S Matai tries J Lyon 3 goals) bt NORTH QUEENSLAND 21 (B Tate 2 K Feldt C Rona tries J Thurston 2 goals J Thurston field goal) at Central Coast Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Adam Devcich. Crowd: 10,013.