Bennett takes aim at NRL drama queens

Wayne Bennett says winless North Queensland have joined the “drama queens” complaining about Johnathan Thurston being illegally targeted to try to divert attention away from their poor NRL season start.

Ahead of Friday night’s Suncorp Stadium clash, Bennett said it was ridiculous Cowboys No.7 Thurston had claimed it was now open slather on playmakers after the NRL failed to punish Newcastle enforcer Beau Scott.

The Broncos coach backed Scott’s hard-nosed tactics, saying he wanted to see the Knights’ forward play that way.

And Bennett scoffed at speculation the Cowboys’ pack would take matters into their own hands if Thurston copped similar rough treatment on Friday night.

Cowboys coach Paul Green was livid over Newcastle’s manhandling of three-time Dally M Medallist Thurston in last round’s tight loss to the Knights.

And Australian captain Cameron Smith called for the NRL to introduce new laws to protect playmakers after accusing Scott of trying to injure key players with late hits.

While critical of the NRL for not doing more to police late hits, Bennett said elite players like Thurston should expect to be targeted.

“What happened this week is that all the drama queens got out of the cage again,” he said.

“The game has not done enough about them (late hits) in my opinion, but the bottom line is they have been there for the last two years and they haven’t just been on Johnathan Thurston, I can tell you.

“Every half in the competition is in the same boat. And elite players always get more attention than anybody else.

“But they (NRL) are supposed to be in front of the game, not behind it, but with this one (late hits) – at the moment they are behind the game – I told them 18 months ago that this would be an issue.”

However, Bennett was adamant Thurston’s open slather claim was ridiculous.

“They have enough rules to cover it and, if they (league) don’t act on it, then it’s their decision,” he said.

“Don’t start blaming the players.”

Asked why the Cowboys had blown up about Thurston’s treatment, Bennett said: “They have lost two games in a row and at home – it’s a good way to deflect attention from yourself.”

Bennett admitted he was Scott’s No.1 fan when he appointed the Knights’ forward as NRL All Stars captain this year and again backed his man on Thursday.

“I love Beau Scott. I am not going to make any apologies for him – I want him to play that way,” he said.

“If he did something wrong, it was up to them to charge him.

“As a coach … you want them (rival playmakers) to get hit; you want them to feel their ribs because they have been hit – but within the rules of the game.

“If you are not a brave halfback, you can’t play the game.

“And there’s no one braver in the game than Johnathan Thurston, but that’s the price you pay for the job you do.”

Talk of on-field payback from Cowboys forwards was also dismissed by Bennett.

“Are they going to have four guys sitting on the sidelines next week because they are suspended?

“That’s rubbish talk.”

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