NRL: Green not dwelling on error

Kieran Foran's try was allowed but it was the obstructing run of Jamie Buhrer that was the main talking point. Photo / Getty Images

Coach Paul Green has urged North Queensland to put thoughts of a southern conspiracy to bed after the Cowboys were on the wrong end of a contentious obstruction call in their loss to Manly.

The officiating howler continues a trend of awful decisions against the NRL club that includes the seventh-tackle try awarded to Cronulla in their semifinal last season and Manly's "Hand of God" try in the sides' finals match in 2013.

With the Cowboys leading 20-14 at Central Coast Stadium on Friday night, Kiwi Kieran Foran dummied his way over from close range.

Decoy runner Jamie Buhrer appeared to hinder the attempted tackle of Ray Thompson on Foran and referee Gavin Badger referred the decision to video referees Paul Mellor and Bernard Sutton.

Channel Nine's commentary team unanimously agreed it wasn't a try but the green "TRY" flashed on the big screen to the disgust of captain Johnathan Thurston, who remonstrated with Badger.

"He directly runs at the line and takes him out," Thurston said to Badger. "It's not good enough."

The converted try allowed Manly to draw level at 20-all.

Thurston landed a field goal in the 74th minute to put the Cowboys ahead before Buhrer scored the match-winner with two minutes left.

When asked after the game if he thought his side were hard done by Thurston replied: "Very much so. When you're in this jersey and it goes to a video ref, it's a lottery."

But Green said the Cowboys can't afford to dwell on past refereeing controversies.

"We've got to move past that as a club," Green said. "There'll be no talking about, 'Poor Cowboys, the world is against us'.

"That was just a poor decision. What's disappointing for the game is that decisions like that are deciding outcomes, and that's not good enough."

- AAP