Is Johnathan Thurston riding roughshod over respect for NRL referees?

THIS is the topic the NRL don’t want coaches or players talking about. It needs to be discussed, writes PAUL CRAWLEY.

ONE round into the new season and some things haven’t changed.

Johnathan Thurston is still the master of clutch plays, and it seems referees are still in awe of the game’s best player.

How else do you describe what went on in Townsville last Saturday night? This is the topic the NRL don’t want coaches or players talking about.

It needs to be discussed.

The game’s bosses are severely underestimating the intelligence of fans.

The Cowboys superstar took his rival skipper Josh Hodgson to school in the art of “respecting” referees.

Thurston demanded on one occasion of referee Ben Cummins “you need to take control”. Thurston wasn’t so much as told to pull his head in.

Thurston also gave Zac Santo a push that almost knocked the young Canberra fullback over when Santo was chasing a quick 20-metre restart.

In commentary for Fox Sports, Andrew Voss suggested Thurston was lucky not to be sin-binned.

Don’t worry about the bin, he wasn’t even penalised.

Johnathan Thurston and referee Ben Cummins last week.

On another occasion Jordan Rapana was fighting for a quick play the ball and Thurston pushed him over.

A deliberate second effort. Mandatory penalty. Nope. Play on.

If you are a Canberra fan, which I am, you had every right to feel deflated watching the golden-point loss.

Not only did the Raiders cop a caning in the so-called 50-50 calls, JT appeared to run his own race.

There is no doubt as Thurston’s legend grows, he is fast approaching Cameron Smith as the game’s most influential figure.

The League Central Podcast: Buzz Rothfield, David Riccio & Fiona Bollen on why the NRL has gone soft on the biff.

For years we’ve been saying the Melbourne, Queensland and Australian skipper holds too much sway with match officials.

Thurston holds his own.

It’s true, Thurston and Smith have earned the right to be respected, on and off the field. And if they can gain an advantage for their team by using that power, and refs fall for it, good luck to them.

Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston have earned the right to be respected. Picture. Phil Hillyard

But the question is why do the NRL continue to allow it?

It is not right rival captains, like Hodgson, are not afforded the same respect. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Raiders, Eels, Knights, Titans, Dragons, whoever.

After all, these captains are also in charge of making sure their teammates, and fans, are given a fair go.

Hodgson was dismissed so casually by Cummins throughout the night, yet Thurston was allowed to suggest Cummins lost control.

Cummins is the same ref Thurston took aim at in the semi-final last year against Cronulla.

At the time Thurston was warned “be very careful”.

Thurston fired back: “What do you mean be careful? You need to get your f ... ing s ... calls right.”

Voss was also in commentary for Fox Sports that night and suggested Thurston should have been binned.

Cummins is also the ref Trent Robinson had in his sights last year when the Roosters coach was fined heavily for saying Cummins was “disrespectful” towards his players, and wouldn’t look them in the eye.

“The way he spoke to Jake (Friend) during the game was unacceptable,” Robinson said.

Are referees in awe of Johnathan Thurston?

Ricky Stuart would have been ­justified to have similar feelings in Townsville. Yet Stuart couldn’t say that because he would be fined.

This goes directly to another issue, the gag order placed on coaches and players again this year.

Before the season kicked off, head of football Brian Canavan sent a memo to all clubs. In it, Canavan stated, “that no club, club official (including a coach) or player may comment on or with respect to the performance of a match official”.

The threat basically was anyone caught doing so would be issued a breach notice.

So was Thurston not commenting on, or critical, of Cummins?

Obviously it is now OK for all captains if it occurs in the heat of battle.

Surely Stuart wouldn’t have escaped sanction if he made the same comment in the media conference, or would he?

It’s no wonder fans get annoyed with apparent double standards.

Coaches and players cannot be expected to continue to shut their mouths if they are not afforded a fair go.

Remember, the Raiders were also hammered in their knockout semi-final last year against Smith’s Storm, where they also had a player binned.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart couldn’t comment on the referees after the game.

The NRL needs to understand constructive criticism of refs is not necessarily bad for the game. Refs need to be accountable, like everyone.

In the lead up to the season, referees’ boss Tony Archer claimed the bunker only made five mistakes last year out of 709 referrals.

Archer said it straight faced, everyone laughed.

The NRL needs to give fans more credit, and allow coaches and players to speak the truth.

Fans are smart enough to work out if refs are being used as scapegoats.

They are also smart enough to see when some players get away with more than others.

Todd Greenberg likes to talk about “clear skies”, and projecting a positive image for the game. I for one wouldn’t mind a dose of reality occasionally.

PARRA IN SEVENTH HEAVEN WITH NORMAN

WHAT could possibly go wrong at Parramatta this year?

The salary cap scandal is behind them, they have a new board free of agendas, and a playmaker capable of finally ending a 31-year premiership drought.

I didn’t want to bring this up in the wake of Corey Norman’s brilliant first-up performance against Manly, but ...

Perhaps Brad Arthur should consider switching Norman to No.6.

In 26 years, or since Peter Sterling retired, Parramatta have had 35 different starting halfbacks.

Of those, only three lasted more than 50 games. Tim Smith, Chris Sandow and Jeff Robson.

Who would have thought this time last year Kieran Foran would suffer the fall he did after Sterlo himself hailed Foran the Eels’ most important signing, ever?

Artwork: Scott “Boo” Bailey.

Norman has had his off-field dramas, but can’t he play football?

Just watching him action against the Sea Eagles, the solo try off a grubber, the freakish 40/20.

But there was a not-so-significant play that also highlighted Norman’s amazing gifts, and composure.

Under immense pressure on the last, Norman reacted in a split second by dropping the ball on his foot without hardly touching it, to thread it in-goal and force the repeat set.

It made you think again, he is the closest thing to Johnathan Thurston in the game today.

He just needs to stay focused, healthy, and away from casinos.

Maybe Norman can be the man who finally puts the curse of Sterlo to bed.

BEWARE HAYNE

No. 1 rule in sport — never write off a champion when he’s down.

Given Jarryd Hayne has been copping it all week, I can’t wait to watch him against Newcastle on Saturday.

No wonder Nathan Brown was cautious with the words he offered about this week’s controversy, and the player he expects to turn up to play the Knights.

“People have criticised Jarryd Hayne’s training commitment many times over the years.” Brown said.

Jarryd Hayne has been copping it all week. Picture: David Clark

“But I’ve watched him play for a long time.

“I’ve seen him win NSW a State of Origin series so I don’t think anyone will be taking him lightly regardless of what people are reporting about him.”

I’m tipping Twitter will go into meltdown the moment Hayne is allowed to turn on his phone after the game.

MADGE’S PAIN

MICHAEL Maguire has also copped a bagging for his treatment of Greg Inglis.

I was initially with the majority in saying there is no way the South Sydney coach should have allowed Inglis to play on for 50 minutes against Wests Tigers last Friday night at ANZ Stadium with what was ultimately a season-ending knee injury.

But what can’t be disputed is the fact Maguire was acting on the advice of his medical staff.

No one outside Souths’ inner sanctum was privy to that information.

Greg Inglis is attended by medical staff after injuring his knee. Picture: Brett Costello

As Maguire told me, when he found out the seriousness of the injury, he was “shattered”.

He also admitted if he had his time over he wouldn’t have kept Inglis on.

Maguire has put up his hand, he can’t do much more than that.

It will be a big call to see if Adam Reynolds is now allowed to return from appendicitis early when the Rabbitohs take on Manly on Saturday at Lottoland.