Thurston last night to the ref 63rd minute.
"Be very careful"
"What do you mean be careful? You need to get your f**king calls right"
If that's not dissent, I don't know what is.
When was the last time somebody was sent to the bin for the way they talked to the ref? I remember Sandow a couple of seasons ago and I have vague recollections of somebody since.
FACT: certain players have been 'protected species' by the NRL for many years, especially when it comes to foul play and judiciary rulings. After all, this is the same Johnathan Thurston that went on a swearing tirade towards the referee a few years ago and got off, as well as kicking David Williams square in the face in Origin 3 2009 and got off as well, but at the same time publicly remonstrated, harangued and pressurised referees on-field in the past to make decisions favourable to his team (e.g. Kade Snowden 'shoulder charge' send-off in 2013 that got him 7 week suspension)
If it was any other fringe first-grade player who did what Thurston did last night, they would've been dealt with and made a public example of at the judiciary and in the media. If the NRL had any balls and credibility, they'd punish Thurston and make a clear example from the situation that speaking like that towards referees is not acceptable. Say what you like about Greg McCallum or Bill Harrigan as past referees, they would not have tolerated any of that crap at all and would've sent his arse off the field before he could even blink!
