North Queensland Cowboys coach Paul Greeb still sees red over green-light blues

COWBOYS coach Paul Green will have his eyes fixed on the video referees after pleading with officials to ignore a parochial Parramatta crowd.

Cowboys training from 1300 Smiles Stadium. Coach Paul Green. Picture: Zak Simmonds

COWBOYS coach Paul Green will have his eyes fixed on the video referees on Friday after pleading with officials to ignore a parochial Parramatta crowd at Pirtek Stadium.

Denied two tries by controversial video ref calls against the Melbourne Storm last weekend, Green’s team was also on the end of an officiating blunder when they played Manly in Round 7, costing his side a probable win.

Cowboys coach Paul Green.

North Queensland are yet to win away from home despite coming close three times this season, including a 26-21 loss to the Sea Eagles that featured a bizarre green light for Kieran Foran’s late try.

Cowboy Ray Thompson had been obstructed in defence by Jamie Buhrer and co-captain Johnathan Thurston said experiencing controversial decisions was part of wearing the club jersey.

While containing Jarryd Hayne will be the main task for North Queensland tonight, Green wants match officials to give his side a fair go, just like predecessor Neil Henry said days before last year’s controversial finals loss to Cronulla.

“As I’ve said, all the coaches want is consistency and hopefully we’ll get that,” he said.

“If you ask the refs they’ll say they don’t let the crowds influence them but (home crowds) are always booing for off-side or holding guys down.

“(Refs) are only human, but hopefully it doesn’t influence them this week.”

Green said he had spoken to National Rugby League referees boss Tony Archer about last weekend’s denied tries to Matt Scott and Matthew Wright.

“I had a conversion with Tony Archer about that, and we agreed on one and probably agreed to disagree on another,” he said.

“(There were) a couple of little contentious decisions around the video ref last week, so even though we won 22-0 it could’ve easily been more.

“I felt Matt Scott’s try was a try, and also Matt Wright’s.’’

The Cowboys travelled to Sydney yesterday with the same squad that Green fielded against the Storm, with Joel Riethmuller as 18th man.

Parramatta will miss the services of hooker Nathan Peats, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury last week, but Green said replacement Luke Kelly deserved respect.

“He (Peats) is a big loss for them and he plays his guts out through the middle, particularly in defence and gives them good direction, so he’ll be missed,” he said.

“But Luke Kelly gets his chance and I’m sure he’ll be keen to get his opportunity.”

Only two competition points stand between 11th-placed North Queensland and a spot just outside the NRL’s top four.

The Cowboys’ for and against is currently better than the five teams immediately ahead of them on the ladder, including Parramatta.

To get another two vital points the Cowboys will have to snap their five-match losing streak in games played away from Townsville.

“Whether you’re at home or away, it makes no difference,” Green said.

“The reason why you win games at home is no different from when you’re way from here (Townsville).”