The NRL Thread

[???]

Yeah, they are having a really pathetic season.

When your entire attack is based around one person and he is either injured or playing rubbish, you pretty much just lose every game. See the Broncos when Darren is out injured and see the Titans this season when Scotty Prince seems to be drunk every game.

The Titans have bought Beau Henry, so hopefully he gets a go in the next few weeks.

Anyone see that trumped up charge against JT?

Could you boys down there at least try to be a bit more subtle with the cheating? Its humiliating for the game.

Yeah, it'll be a shame if he gets banned for Game 3 of Origin.

Shouldn't of even been charged.

[brently1979]

Anyone see that trumped up charge against JT?

Could you boys down there at least try to be a bit more subtle with the cheating? Its humiliating for the game.

Load of ****.

How could they be even looking at it. they could be more worried about that tackle from that Prick from Melbourne on Sunday, Great way to **** someones spine up.

I'm sick of the way Melbourne play this wrestling and slow the play the ball down.

[???]

QUEENSLAND halfback Johnathan Thurston was cleared to play in the deciding State of Origin last night - by three New South Welshman - after successfully arguing that he did not see referee Matt Cecchin before the pair collided last Saturday night.

Thurston said he was ''very relieved'' after successfully arguing that the contact was accidental. ''Obviously there was a little bit of doubt there but I'm very relieved,'' Thurston said. ''We knew we had a good case. There's always that little bit of doubt it could not go your way.''

The three-man panel of Ian Roberts, Michael Buettner and Sean Garlick took 45 minutes to agree, finding Thurston not guilty and freeing him to play Penrith on Sunday at Centrebet Stadium as well as State of Origin III on July 6.

Roberts and Buettner have played Origin for the Blues, however, NRL officials were quick to point out Mark Coyne ruled himself off the panel because of his close relationship with Thurston, while fellow Queenslander Bob Lindner was unavailable and Kiwi Darrell Williams fell ill before the hearing.

Thurston had argued that he was looking at Warriors five-eighth James Maloney when he collided with Cecchin midway through the first half at Dairy Farmers Stadium last Saturday night.

''I could see the break happen,'' Thurston said. ''I've had my eyes on Feleti [Mateo], who's broken the line. I could see James Maloney pushing up on the outside. That's where I was running, towards James Maloney. At no point have I seen the referee, until I've collided with him. I was trying to stop a try from happening by tackling James Maloney.''

Judiciary counsel James McLeod tried to argue that Thurston should have been aware of the potential of a collision with the referee. ''There's no question [Thurston] is a great player,'' McLeod said. ''He's a competitive player, a great player. You see him jinking, weaving, darting in a number of scenarios. We see him avoiding collisions with his own players … where was that effort in this case?''

Thurston's representative, Alan Sullivan, described as ''fanciful'' the prospect of Thurston ''looking up to see where the referee might be''.

Thurston argued: ''When a break's made, I'm not looking to see where the referee is. I'm looking to see where the break's been made.''

Under cross examination by McLeod, Thurston said ''all my vision was for Maloney''.

''Is it possible that you saw a glimpse of pink?'' McLeod asked.

''No, because I didn't see him,'' Thurston said.

''Is it your evidence that you did not even catch a glimpse of the [referee's] pink shirt,'' McLeod asked again.

''That's correct,'' Thurston said.

McLeod conceded the contact was not intentional, but argued that it was avoidable. ''He didn't take steps that were reasonable … to avoid contact with the match official,'' McLeod said.

Sullivan argued that the fact Thurston did not swerve or deviate showed the halfback did not see the official. ''The fact that Johnathan did nothing is consistent with what he says … he didn't see the referee,'' Sullivan said.

Cecchin provided a report to the hearing but did not appear. He described the impact as ''severe, causing some pain as the contact was from behind and I didn't see it''. But he said Thurston apologised to him and he was unsure as to whether the act was intentional.

''The player apologised straight away and asked if I was OK, and at the time I said 'no problem' and thought it was just an accident,'' Cecchin wrote. ''As for the intent of the player and the need for contact, I don't have the football experience to know if the contact with me was avoidable or required.''

Thurston's Cowboys teammate Tariq Sims was not so fortunate last night. The 21-year-old was outed for two games when a downgrade plea on his grade-two crusher tackle charge was rejected.

[Dan...]

Cecchin is complete scum. Basically wanted him to get suspended for that. What a ***** and a *****.

Glad he got off. Ridiculous, trumped up charge. That rule needs an overhaul.

[brently1979]

Cecchin is complete scum. Basically wanted him to get suspended for that. What a ***** and a *****.

Glad he got off. Ridiculous, trumped up charge. That rule needs an overhaul.

It was a joke.

[???]

Sad to say it, but I think the Titans are going to get the wooden spoon.

[Dan...]

Sad to say it, but I think the Titans are going to get the wooden spoon.

Fair chance. Saw the Sharks game on Saturday night, they were just atrocious. They have zero attack and their attitude in defence is pathetic.

They have at least recruited decently for next season, but I think it might be a while before they are back up in the top 4. Still don't really rate their side for next year, particularly with Prince seemingly well and truly on the slide.

[???]

Mat Rogers to play with the Titans for the rest of the season.

[Dan...]

Mat Rogers to play with the Titans for the rest of the season.

Strange really. They are out of the running and he won't be playing next season. I would have looked to the future if I was the Gold Coast.

[???]

Strange really. They are out of the running and he won't be playing next season. I would have looked to the future if I was the Gold Coast.

Apparently he couldn't sit and watch the Titans doing so poorly any more, although it's a bit late in my opinion, maybe if he started playing 8 weeks ago.

What about Beau Henry though?