NRL: Refs deserve our respect - Thurston

Johnathan Thurston. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - Johnathan Thurston has pleaded with the league world not to use his emotional outburst at an NRL referee as an excuse for aggression against the officials.

Thurston was cleared of a charge of bringing the game into disrepute despite an expletive-laden tirade at referee Jason Robinson in the final minute of last Saturday's narrow loss to Manly in Townsville.

The judiciary's decision provoked an angry response yesterday with questions about why he was hit with a detrimental conduct charge rather than the more routine contrary conduct.

It also forced NRL match review committee chairman Greg McCallum to warn players they still risked being charged despite the case being thrown out.

Thurston issued a statement yesterday stopping short of an apology but imploring players at all levels to treat referees with respect.

"I'm not happy with what I saw when I looked back at the tape of me addressing the referee," the statement read.

"It was an emotional situation, though, that got a little out of hand and if I had my chance again of course I would have handled things differently.

"I certainly don't want people to think that I am encouraging anyone to blow up at the referee.

"The refs deserve respect in any game and I respect the job they are trying to do.

"I have no hard feelings towards Jason or any of the officials and [would] be really upset if people took this as an excuse to be aggressive towards the referee in the future."

Warriors forward Micheal Luck said: "I can't believe they let him off.

"It's set a pretty dangerous precedent now that anyone who sprays the ref can go back to that incident and say 'well, Thurston didn't even get penalised, why am I at the judiciary?'

"Any other player on the field that night, or any team, would have been at least penalised."

- AAP