Cowboys coach Paul Green loses Gavin Cooper and Antonio Winterstein to injury, fined $10,000 for ref comments

PAUL Green has been hit with a $10,000 fine by the NRL and lost two key players for Saturday’s crucial clash with Penrith.

Paul Green, Coach of the Cowboys at the post game media conference after the Round 22 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Melbourne Storm at 1300 SMILES Stadium in Townsville, Friday, August 4, 2017. (AAP Image/Michael Chambers) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

COWBOYS coach Paul Green has suffered a double blow after being hit with a breach notice by the NRL on the same day he lost two key players for Saturday night’s crucial clash against Penrith.

Injury is threatening to derail North Queensland’s premiership drive with Origin backrower Gavin Cooper (calf) and winger Antonio Winterstein (hamstring) to miss the road trip to Pepper Stadium.

Green’s selection pain was compounded by the NRL formally issuing a proposed $10,000 fine following the Cowboys coach’s savage attack on the match officials in last Friday’s 26-8 loss to Melbourne.

Green accused referees Ashley Klein and Alan Shortall of ruining the contest with the “worst refereeing display ever”.

Green slammed the referees performance in last week’s loss to the Storm.

The Cowboys have five business days to respond to the breach notice.

“The comments by Paul Green about the officials were unprompted,” the NRL’s head of football Brian Canavan said.

“As with recent comments by a fellow head coach (Dragons’ Paul McGregor) which resulted in a breach notice, these statements crossed the line relating to our rules regarding match officials.

“We will continue to ensure the integrity of the referees is protected in the lead up to and during the finals.

“There are avenues for coaches, players and club officials to take up matters with the referees rather than making public comments.”

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In a further concern for Green, senior duo Cooper and Winterstein are facing two weeks on the sidelines, although prop Scott Bolton will face the Panthers after being cleared of a serious elbow injury.

There was also positive news for five-eighth Te Maire Martin, who took a knock to his knee against the Storm, but has been named to take on the Penrith club he severed ties with just six weeks ago.

The Cowboys’ captain’s curse has now claimed Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott and Cooper, clearing the path for Maroons Origin utility Michael Morgan to lead the side on to Pepper Stadium.

Cooper will be out for several weeks with a calf injury.

“He’s really embraced his added role this year and his added responsibility since (Thurston) has been out,” Green said.

“I think it’s a natural step in his development, it’s his natural progression.

“There are other guys out there that are part of that leadership group that will certainly help.

“Cootey (fullback Lachlan Coote) at the back, guys like that ... it’ll be a bit of a team effort but I think it will be good for (Morgan).”

Javid Bowen will start on the wing for Winterstein, while Maroons Origin rookie Coen Hess replaces Cooper in the back row. Green is confident Bolton will be fit to face the Panthers.

“Bolts got a bad flu a couple of weeks ago and that sort of knocked him around a bit,” Green said.

“We’ve had an eight-day turnaround ... this was our opportunity to freshen them up before we come into the back end of the season.”