Henry issues please explain to NRL
Seething North Queensland Cowboys coach Neil Henry has fired off a "please explain" to NRL referees boss Bill Harrigan, saying he is "astounded" officials did not disallow a match-turning Dragons try in their last-round loss at Kogarah.
Henry was still fuming on Tuesday over winger Brett Morris' 90m intercept try which broke the backs of the Cowboys as the Dragons finally ran out 22-8 winners on Sunday.
Leading 6-2, the Dragons endured five successive sets in the first half before Morris intercepted pivot Ray Thompson's pass and raced away to score.
While the focus was on Morris' effort afterwards, Henry demanded to know why the video referee was not consulted after claiming Dragons centre Matt Cooper was up to two metres off-side in the lead-up.
"I am astounded that they wouldn't go to a video referee and look at how far off-side Matt Cooper was in that particular play," he said.
"I have sent an email to Bill Harrigan, he will look at it and get back to me.
"But there's no doubt ... he is clearly off-side.
"It wasn't mentioned by commentators, it wasn't mentioned by anyone - just how magnificent the try was.
"Well, it should have been a penalty to us (with us) attacking their line again."
Henry said he couldn't hang the result on that play, but admitted the Cowboys had dropped their heads afterwards.
"That doesn't excuse us letting them roll the full length of the field and getting another try at the back end of that," he said.
"But certainly it is a huge momentum swing when one side has hammered a line for four or five sets and then a team runs 100 metres against you and scores a try under the posts.
"It's a big lift to their team and it's a huge swing against us because it is really deflating to see that happen.
"That is a huge turning point in a game of football."
While clearly unhappy, Henry said it would only motivate his side in their next clash against Parramatta in Townsville on Saturday night - especially after the Eels stole a 22-20 win over North Queensland in round four.
"It's our opportunity to get one back on them," he said.
"But they (Eels) have been saying that they need to kick start their season - this would be a good opportunity for them.
"They will be rested up and fresh (after a last round bye) and they welcome back their number one strike weapon in (Jarryd) Hayne."
Meanwhile, Henry cleared second-rower Glenn Hall (thigh) to return and gave co-captain Matt Scott (ankle) and Scott Bolton (head wound) the green light to play against the Eels.
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