Green tackles complaint

COWBOYS coach Paul Green has broken his silence over the Ethan Lowe affair, revealing he lodged a complaint with the NRL after fearing Melbourne players were targeting the necks of rival players.

Lowe will face the Storm in Sunday’s NRL grand final at ANZ Stadium, a year after a spinal surgery on a careerthreatening neck injury.

The Cowboys back-rower suffered the injury in North Queensland’s qualifying loss to Melbourne last year, sparking a bitter falling out between the Cowboys and Storm.

Green lodged a complaint with the NRL after three Cowboys players reported neck injuries following the firstweek final which Melbourne won.

The Storm rubbished the allegations and the NRL did not find any illegal tackles con- tributed to the injuries, however relations between the heavyweight clubs fractured during the controversy.

Speaking publicly about the issue for the first time, Green said the frequency of Storm players making contact with rivals’ necks prompted his complaint to the NRL.

“At the time I felt that there was too many tackles where Melbourne players ended up around the neck,” he said.

“That was the biggest thing I was worried about. We had three neck injuries out of that game and they were not guys [who complained]. One was Gavin Cooper and one was Rory Kostjasyn. They’re tough guys. They don’t whinge.

“I think ‘Lowey’ being as [badly] injured as he was probably made me a little bit more emotional about it.

“I’ve spoken to Craig [Bellamy, Storm coach] and there’s no issues from my point of view. I don’t think [there is any] bad blood between us. I’m not seeing that in how they tackle now either. Whether or not it’s deliberate, only they will probably know that.”

Storm football boss Frank Ponissi said Melbourne was not fazed by the Cowboys’ allegations about their tackling techniques.

“It’s ancient history to us,” Ponissi said.

“That happened 12 months ago so surely everyone can move on.”