Stunned North Queensland officials will use every resource available to clear Johnathan Thurston of a serious contrary conduct charge threatening to shatter his dream of a State of Origin farewell with Darren Lockyer.

The champion halfback started Monday hoping for some good news on a scan on his injured ankle.

He got it.

But his day ended in turmoil after being hit with a grade two contrary conduct charge following a heavy collision with referee Matt Cecchin playing against the Warriors at the weekend.

The Cowboys will claim Thurston's eyes were fixed on Warriors' five-eighth James Maloney racing for the tryline and that he didn't see Cecchin.

If found guilty Thurston would miss Sunday's NRL clash with Penrith, the Origin match (because as a suspended player he would not be eligible for selection) and the round 18 game against Newcastle on July 11.

Even if he took an early guilty plea he would miss the same number of games.

The club has hired legal top gun Geoff Bellew, who's had some significant victories at the NRL judiciary, to defend their star playmaker.

If the Cowboys have no luck in having the charge dismissed Bellew is then expected to argue to have it downgraded in a last ditch bid to at least allow him to play for Queensland on July 6.

There's also a provision for Thurston to lodge an appeal to have the Origin match included in his suspension.

However South Sydney went down that path a few years ago with Kiwi international David Fa'alogo involved in a protracted and unsuccessful case challenge.

Recent incidents involving players coming in contact with referees send mixed messages with Canberra's Josh McCrone given a week suspension for a bump on Steve Lyons in round six while Brisbane's Sam Thaiday had no case to answer for recently after also having contact on Cecchin.

Unsurprisingly Queensland coach Mal Meninga took up Thurston's defence on Monday.

"I'm very surprised, I defy anyone to claim someone deliberately runs into the back of a referee, it's ludicrous, but I guess that is the way the game has gone," Meninga told Triple M radio in Sydney.

"How do you say it was intent? Apparently the referee tried to get out of the way, and Johnathan apologised and the referee accepted it straight away.

"We want to protect referees, but to come up with a contrary conduct charge for that?

"If somebody swears at the referee or verbally abuses the referee (which Thurston has been found guilty of in the past) then you have a case to answer.

"But how do you prove that a player deliberately ran over the top of a referee?

"To give him a grade two charge, well I find it hard to fathom."

All 16 NRL clubs were sent a circular before the season advising them of a change to the rules following a number of collisions with referees in 2010 which players claimed were not intentional.

They were advised that players who "carelessly, recklessly or intentionally" come into contact with referees in 2011 could be charged with contrary conduct.

The phrase read: "It's the responsibility of the player to avoid contact with the match official at all times during a match".

NSW coach Ricky Stuart, who had a major judiciary ruling fall his way before game two when Blues winger Akuila Uate escaped a lifting tackle charge, expects to be plotting his third game tactics with Thurston in the No.7 jumper.

"I can't see them not downgrading it," Stuart told Network Ten.

"I believe that with such a big game coming up I think they (the judiciary) could sit there and be well and truly comfortable with downgrading it.

"I'm sure that's what will happen."

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