Cowboys to dish it out after JT attacks

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THE NRL season threatens to degenerate into thugby league unless officials crack down on the illegal targeting of star playmakers.

North Queensland players privately regret not fighting back against their Newcastle rivals following a series of attacks on Johnathan Thurston which even Knights legend Andrew Johns described as "cheap shots".

It is understood Cowboys players will not hold back next time one of their own is targeted illegally and believe going to the sin bin is worth it to protect one of their own.

Thurston was illegally crunched three times in the Cowboys' loss to the Knights on Saturday, leaving coach Paul Green and the playing group seething.

Thurston had fluid drained from around his left eye to reduce swelling caused by a Jeremy Smith knee to the head.

A battered Jonathan Thurston after the loss to the Knights. Source: News Corp Australia

When Thurston was tackled in the 26th minute, Smith's knee clearly drove into his face yet the Knights backrower was not placed on report.

Smith's fellow enforcer Beau Scott smashed Thurston's ribs with a late shot in the first half which was placed on report.

Scott and Chris Houston also combined to drive Thurston head first into the ground with a dangerous throw in the second half that was also placed on report.

To further highlight what appeared to be a clear plan by the Knights, Thurston received a series of face massages during the game.

The Cowboys' pack knew their half was being thumped out of the contest but could only stand back and watch it happen because throwing a punch would have resulted in an automatic sin bin. Yet Scott was able to smash Thurston off the ball and throw him head first to the ground without a sin bin being an option.

"The Beau Scott one ... there's about 10 guys in the competition who do this every week, when the ballplayer goes to the line and passes they wait a second, when the player's relaxed, they hit them in the kidneys, the ribs, when they are not expecting it," Johns said on The Sunday Footy Show.

"It is a cheap shot as far as I am concerned."

Johnathan Thurston lies on the ground after a hit. Source: News Corp Australia

Thurston will be available for the Cowboys blockbuster with the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium this Friday.

Winger Justin O'Neill is in danger of missing the clash due to concussion.

O'Neill's head was slammed by Knights prop Kade Snowden in a tackle that could attract either a head slam or dangerous throw charge.

A fuming Green said officials needed to protect his players better but his comments will not attract a reprimand from the NRL.

"They're supposed to be making the game safe," he said.

"I felt that he was certainly targeted by the opposition.

"It's pretty well known that those guys (Scott and Smith) are good at it.

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"Years ago, if that sort of thing happened, your teammates would deal with it on the field.

"Now they clearly want to go in a direction where that doesn't happen anymore.

"They take it out of our hands, as in the players' hands, through trying to make the game safe. If that's the way they want the game to go then someone needs to protect players.

"His eye is just about closed and he's a guy who wears head gear as well."

Newcastle coach Rick Stone defended his players' actions as being "competitive".

"It's our job to compete hard. You've got to compete for the 80 minutes if you're going to take the points out of Townsville,'' he said.

Cowboys co-captain Matt Scott was fuming post-match.

"They talk about protecting the players and yet we see someone like Johnno getting treated like that."

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