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MICHAEL THOMPSON | August 20th, 2011
Johnathan Thurston celebrates his try against the South Sydney Rabbitohs with Kalifa Faifai Loa.
THE North Queensland Cowboys are furious over a highly controversial penalty for an apparent high shot by hooker James Segeyaro that gifted South Sydney a thrilling 26-24 victory at ANZ Stadium last night.
Segeyaro made the hit on Rabbitohs No. 9 Isaac Luke in the frantic minutes of golden-point extra time after the Cowboys had earlier led the Rabbitohs 24-12 with 10 minutes remaining.
Luke stayed down and the act proved to win not only the home fans on side but match officials, who pointed towards the sticks and in effect ended the contest.
Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston said neither he or his teammates would repeat Sandow's actions if put in the same position of winning an extra-time thriller.
"I don't play like that mate, neither do any of our boys," he said. "(It's) pretty gut-wrenching, pretty shattered, that's how we're feeling."
The Bunnies, however, had rallied in the face of adversity with two late tries to James Roberts and Chris McQueen to level the scores at 24-all when the fulltime siren sounded.
Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen came within inches of sealing a momentous win after his attempt at a drop-goal hit the posts, the ball dropping sweetly into Rabbitohs possession when it all seemed lost.
Everyone in the stands at the Homebush venue thought Bowen had nailed it, but the attempt was the last time North Queensland threatened to steal the game.
Cowboys coach Neil Henry couldn't contain his anger with the decision, which resulted in Segeyaro being placed on report.
"To decide the game on an arm that came off the ball (and) tapped the chin of a man that decided to stay down - results I think an unfair way to end a game of footy," Henry said.
"In wet conditions, where do you want me to start? Four-nil penalty count at the start of the game - 8-3 penalty count in the game - I refuse to believe that my side is that ill-disciplined. We were in a commanding position at 24-12 and, to their credit, they kept trying to get a result."
Henry said there were "five or six" decisions that went against his team last night, but none could compare to the one that sealed his team's fate.
"I think most rugby league followers out there would think that to end the game like that, with that particular penalty, was marginal at best," he said.
"You could find another 10 examples of that where it didn't warrant a penalty."
Luke stayed on the ground after the apparent high hit and after a chorus of jeers from the South Sydney crowd the penalty was given, which Sandow slotted from 30m out. The Rabbitohs also caused the pre-game shocks with the dropping of marquee centre Greg Inglis due to headache problems and star fullback Nathan Merritt for a quadricep injury sustained an hour before kick-off.
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2011/08/20/259291_sport.html
