Whistle blowers crumbled on big day as North Queensland bow out of the finals

JOHNATHAN Thurston slammed referees’ lack of on-field communication as he came to terms with another gut-wrenching season-ending defeat.

JOHNATHAN Thurston slammed the referees' lack of on-field communication on Saturday night as the Cowboys pivot came to terms with another gut-wrenching season-ending defeat.

Like a horror movie on loop, Thurston was forced to digest the latest refereeing blunder that consigned North Queensland to a second successive finals nightmare.

The 20-18 loss represented a bitter end for retiring Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen and sacked coach Neil Henry, who is in line to replace Ricky Stuart at Parramatta next season.

The ever-competitive Thurston looked inconsolable during the post-match press conference as he attempted to make sense of the seventh-tackle farce that marred Cronulla’s victory.

But the Maroons ace was also critical of Matt Cecchin and Henry Perenara’s communication, saying the whistle-blowers failed to inform players of the tackle-count during play.

Thurston

"The refs have been going great all year, then on the biggest stage they crumble," he said.

"I'm asking the referees on the field, 'What tackle is it? What tackle is it?'

"I shouldn’t have to ask what tackle it is, they should be telling us, they aren’t even telling us when we are playing the ball.

"There were times in the game when I’d be looking at the ref and seeing what tackle it is and they aren’t even giving us a tackle (count)."

The Test playmaker said the post-match apology from NRL chief executive Dave Smith offered no comfort.

"They are experienced referees ... you don’t see this in Queensland Cup or local A-grade."

"It's too little, too late," he said.

"I’m just shattered sitting in the sheds, I can't say anything.

"Two years in a row we’ve had our season decided by it (refereeing mistakes). Maybe we had opportunities to make up for it but really this is the biggest stage, our refs should be getting it right."

"It's just astounding ... two years in a row.

“We work our butts off and get dudded twice in two years, there needs to be some accountability for this. This is the biggest stage. We are performing to the best of our ability, are the refs performing to the best of their ability?"

Henry said he felt for the playing group, most of all for Bowen, who played his 270th and final NRL game last night.

"He's sitting in there shattered that it was his last game of NRL," Henry said of Bowen.

"It was a disappointing way for him to go. My hurt is compounded by seeing this bloke (pointing to Thurston), thinking our season is done, it's over.

"I just hope there’s not another coach sitting here next week saying the same thing."