WAYNE Bennett has hit back at Maroons ace Johnathan Thurston as the Broncos coach declared the “drama queens are out of the cage” on the issue of playmakers being illegally targeted by opposition defences.

Thurston set the scene for a fiery Queensland derby tomorrow night when the Cowboys half-back claimed it was now “open slather” after he was given a torrid workover by Knights forward Beau Scott last Saturday.

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Bennett coached Scott during his three seasons at the Knights and the master coach today rubbished suggestions Thurston is being deliberately bashed, saying the Cowboys are deflecting attention from two consecutive defeats at home.

“It’s not open slather, that’s ridiculous,” Bennett said of Thurston’s claim.

“What’s happened this week is all the drama queens have got out of the cage again.

“It’s been going on for a long time in our game. Elite players always get more attention than everyone else.

“Johnathan didn’t get any more special treatment last week than he got in last year’s Origin series when there was a war between him and Beau Scott.

“Now it’s headlines for three or four days.

“If you are an elite player you have to expect you will get a lot more attention than the guys who haven’t got your ability because that’s who you have to stop.

“The late tackles have been going on for two years now, the game hasn’t done enough in my opinion but it’s not just Johnathan Thurston. Go and talk to Cooper Cronk and other players and ask many times they have been taken off the ball.

“The Cowboys have lost two games, they lost them at home, it’s a good way to deflect attention, it’s a dream that sort of stuff.”

Bennett defended Scott’s actions, but challenged NRL head of football Todd Greenberg to take a more proactive stance.

“I love Beau Scott, I make no apologies for him,” he said.

“He plays on the edge and that’s what you want from your players. If he’s done something wrong, it’s up to the NRL to charge him. I wouldn’t change Beau Scott for a second.

“If you are not a brave half-back today, you can’t play, and there is no-one braver than Johnathan Thurston and that’s the price you pay.

“What’s happening is the ball players have to play at the line, they have to more than ever because defences have got smarter, they have never been as smart as they are now.

“They have to get closer to the line but as an opposition coach, that’s the last thing you want. You want them getting hit, you want them feeling their ribs because they have been hit within the rules of the game.

“It was happening in the 1960s and ‘70s.

“Guys are getting tackled later and defenders are allowed to get away with it.

“Has it always been in the game? Yes it has.

“In the past the forwards would have taken it into their hands and there would have been a blue in the game. There is a bit of frustration out there.

“They NRL have enough rules to cover it and if they don’t act on it it’s their decision.”