Lowe neck injury spurred Green to NRL 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 confront the Storm in Sunday’s NRL grand final at ANZ Stadium, a year after undergoing delicate spinal surgery on a career- threatening 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 Cow- boys players reported neck injuries following the first- week final which Melbourne won.
Green, speaking publicly about the issue for the first time, 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. That was the biggest thing I was worried about,” he said.
“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.”
The Storm and Cowboys have developed a genuine rivalry over the past few years.
Storm football boss Frank Ponissi said Melbourne were not fazed by the Cowboys’ allegations about their tackling techniques.