THE NRL slugged North Queensland coach Paul Green with a breach notice for spraying the referees after the Cowboys’ loss to Melbourne on the weekend, and the real reason for his anger has been revealed.

Green is facing a $10,000 fine after he slammed the officiating in his side’s 26-8 defeat as “the worst display of refereeing I have ever seen”. But his remarks may have had more to do with Storm duo Cameron Smith and Billy Slater than the men with the whistle.

Channel Seven rugby league journalist Josh Massoud reports Green took offence to some niggling acts from the pair, prompting his post-game explosion.

“What really got under his bonnet ... are some of the niggly, grubby tactics from Melbourne. But not just Melbourne, some of their champion, so-called cleanskin players like Cameron Smith and Billy Slater,” Massoud said on Sky Sports’ Big Sports Breakfast.

“There was an elbow to the head of (Cowboys fullback) Lachlan Coote.

“Paul Green privately feels these guys are a protected species, that the referees don’t police them well enough.

“It was more the niggly stuff that he didn’t appreciate.”

While Green said he didn’t want to make excuses for his side’s performance, he seemed to do just that by blaming the refs for what he believes were a host of poor calls.

“The fans deserved more than that. There were two quality teams out there and I was left scratching my head at some of the calls.,” Green said.

“I said to the boys after the game, I’ve never been involved in a game where so many things have gone against us. It’s just a shame the refs ruined the game.”

Smith is renowned for being a master manipulator of referees. There’s long been a theory the Queensland and Australian captain is able to get away with anything because of his reputation and standing in the game, and it appears it all became too much for Green on the weekend.

‘HAD A GUTFUL’: BIRD BACKFLIP RUBBISHED

Jack Bird — and his father — both say the Cronulla star will honour his contract with the Brisbane Broncos and head north in 2018.

The 22-year-old signed a deal with the Queensland club worth a reported $4 million over four years earlier in the season, but rumours have been swirling he was having second thoughts about the move.

Those rumours have been shut down after the centre and his dad both confirmed Bird’s intention play under Wayne Bennett next year.

“All I know is that I’m gonna finish off the season strongly with Cronulla and I am really looking forward to going to Brisbane next year,” Bird told the Courier Mail.

Bird’s father Mick told Josh Massoud there’s no doubt about what jersey his son will be wearing in 2018.

“I speak to Jack all the time and he’s really looking forward to joining the Broncos and he’s just confused by it all,” Mick said.

“Like any 22-year-old he’s nervous about a big move but not once has ever mentioned not wanting to go. It’s all a bit weird.”

Mick also said the pair have had a “gutful” over how the Sharks have treated the young gun since he inked his Broncos deal less than a year after winning a premiership with the Sydney club.

“The Sharks have been at him ever since he signed with the Broncos, they haven’t left him alone and myself and Jack have had a gutful,” he told the Courier Mail.

HODGES CRITICISES ‘SELFISH’ HAYNE

As the million-dollar man on the Gold Coast, Jarryd Hayne is always going to be an easy target when dissecting the Titans’ woes in 2017.

Former Queensland and Australian centre Justin Hodges took a dig at the NSW Origin star for his effort in Gold Coast’s abysmal 54-0 loss to Brisbane on the weekend, singling out a particular play when he kicked the ball dead on the first tackle.

“When I first watched it when I was there I gave him the 50-50 call that he probably didn't know it was the first tackle, but everyone around him and everyone in the stands knew it was the first tackle,” Hodges said on Fox Sports program Queenslanders Only.

“It’s a bit of a selfish play, tackle one, it may have been nil-all so the game was still in the balance.”

Coach Neil Henry’s future at the club has come under question following the drubbing, which has added another sad chapter to an already miserable season. The Titans have managed only seven wins in 20 matches and sit 14th on the ladder.

Queensland coach Kevin Walters says the team’s senior players need to stand up and Kangaroos mentor Mal Meninga believes Henry should still be in charge of the team next year.

“Those senior players at the Coast need to stand up and say, ‘This is what we’re about here,’” Walters said.

“You need to take ownership of your team. You can’t leave it all up to the poor coach holding the empty bucket of water.”

“Neil Henry sits in the box, he doesn’t do that chip kick, he doesn’t miss the tackles or make poor passes or make poor decisions defensively,” Meninga added.

“He should be there (in 2018).”