North Queensland Cowboys meet with NRL amid seventh-tackle try controversy

COWBOYS CEO Peter Jourdain met with NRL boss Dave Smith on Monday to express the club's disappointment over the seventh-tackle try.

NORTH Queensland Cowboys CEO Peter Jourdain met with NRL boss Dave Smith on Monday to express the club's disappointment over both the seventh-tackle try debacle in Saturday's elimination final loss to the Cronulla Sharks and a lack of security for his players post-match.

Jourdain said that while there was no option to force a rematch or have the result overturned, he had received assurances from the NRL that the matters were being investigated and appropriate action would be taken.

"Incorrect decisions that seriously affect the outcome of a game must be avoided given the enormous impact they can have on a club and the code overall," Jourdain said.

"I commend our players for their tremendous efforts throughout the season and again on Saturday night when they were challenged in many ways.

"We will now be turning our focus to the 2014 season when we again expect to be fighting for the premiership."

For the second year in a row, the Cowboys had their title hopes dashed in controversial circumstances.

Last season they were eliminated at the hands of Manly after a Kieran Foran knock-on was missed in the lead-up to a four-pointer, while on Saturday Beau Ryan scored in the seventh minute - on the seventh tackle - in a moment that proved decisive in the Sharks' 20-18 win.

Saturday's events have led to cries of a conspiracy against the Cowboys and a Sydney bias in the NRL, while Cowboys fans started a petition to get the club back into the finals.

"On behalf of the North Queensland Cowboys, I’d like to thank the many thousands of members, sponsors and fans who have shown their support for our club since Saturday night’s elimination final against Cronulla," Jourdain said.

"The response at Townsville Airport on Sunday and via phone calls, emails and various social media channels has been overwhelming.

"We believe the outpouring of emotion from everyone involved in our club, and our member and supporter base, has been appropriate given what has happened to the Cowboys in the past two finals series."