Green demands obstruction consistency

North Queensland coach Paul Green has demanded consistency over obstruction calls, comparing Josh Dugan’s match winning try for the Dragons to Michael Morgan’s disallowed four pointer in the NRL grand final re-match.

Green says he is still seeking a chat with NRL referees boss Tony Archer over several calls that went against them in their golden point loss to Brisbane.

But he appeared most annoyed by Morgan’s 65th minute try that was overturned by the bunker due to an obstruction call.

Warriors coach Andrew McFadden also claimed he would seek a “please explain” after winger Tuimoala Lolohea was denied a try due to obstruction in their weekend win over Newcastle.

But Green cited Dugan’s last gasp try that sunk Penrith 14-12 in Wollongong as a glaring example of inconsistency by officials.

Green claimed he saw a similar obstruction in the lead-up to Dugan’s match winning effort.

“I saw another couple of obstructions over the weekend that were certainly comparable – that Josh Dugan try in particular,” Green said.

“That’s what I need to talk to Tony about.”

Green agreed with McFadden that a common sense approach rather than a “black and white” rule be used for obstruction calls.

Green was still adamant that Brisbane utility Alex Glenn – who came into contact with the Cowboys’ Ethan Lowe – had no chance of stopping Morgan from scoring in the 65th minute last Friday night at a packed Suncorp Stadium.

“The one with Morgo it (Lowe contact) was going to have no bearing on the outcome,” Green said.

“Alex Glenn had stopped and walked and given up on the play.

“And two other guys had clean shots at Morgo to tackle him and just missed him.

“That’s why I don’t think it can be black and white, you have to see what outcome happens during that play.”

Green said he was “surprised” that Archer had backed the extra-time no try call against Johnathan Thurston that would have sealed a dramatic win for North Queensland.

Thurston appeared to pounce on a loose ball batted back from the sidelines by diving winger Kyle Feldt, but also looked to have fumbled in his attempt to ground the ball.

Feldt was deemed to have knocked on in the build-up but on-field referee Bernard Sutton could not give an irate Thurston an explanation after the ruling.

Asked if there should be better communication between the bunker and on-field referees so decisions could be explained, Green said: “It’s up to the refs to let them (players) know whatever the decision is.

“And more importantly they need to know how they got to that decision – that’s all the players want.”

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