Cowboys take aim at NRL ref Cummins

NRL referee Ben Cummins has once again found himself in the firing line after Paul Green launched an attack on the whistleblower in the wake of North Queensland’s 16-8 loss to Melbourne.

After being on the end of Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson’s infamous ANZAC Day spray, Cummins was once again accused on disrespectful behaviour by the Cowboys at 1300SMILES Stadium on Saturday night.

The Cowboys complained of being “blow off” when approaching the decorated official for an explanation and the Storm being given the benefit of a host of contentious calls.

“There were a number of 50-50 calls that didn’t go our way,” Green said.

“There was a lot of discussion earlier in the year from the Roosters’ coach Trent Robinson about the way the head ref Ben Cummins engages with players.

“I thought there was probably evidence of that again tonight.

“I thought we were entitled to query some of those decisions, particularly when you see the replays.”

While Green’s post-match comments lacked the venom of Robinson’s tirade, he is facing the prospect of a fine given his comments could be interpreted as an attack on Cummins’ credibility.

“There were a couple of contentious calls there, which I can cop, as long as they go both ways,” Green said.

“Jimmy Tamou was penalised there for a Cameron Smith error and from what I could see there was no way he was not square. That gives them field position and I think they got a try off the back of it.

“Javid Bowen plays the ball and clearly their foot is involved in that and yet they call a scrum.

“They’re the calls. I don’t think they evened out.

“Michael Morgan, when he got thrown into touch, if that had been the tryline and they had picked him back and thrown him into the in-goal, it would have been a different decision.

“Again, I’m not here to whinge about refs’ decisions.”

Cowboys stand-in skipper Matt Scott echoed Green’s frustrations, saying the rub of the green went Melbourne’s way.

“A couple of the calls that I thought were incorrect, you look at the replays and you see a foot hit the ball out of Jango (Bowen)’s hand,” Scott said.

“I’m asking `shouldn’t he be allowed room to play in the ruck?’ And I’m just getting blown off.

“That’s a bit hard to cop when I see the replays showing I’m correct.”

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