After lashing out and being fined by the NRL for questioning the integrity of the code's judiciary system, the Cowboys have now been criticised for whingeing by the Sydney Roosters.
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Before Friday night's do-or-die showdown at Allianz Stadium, Roosters coach Trent Robinson has taken a swipe at former assistant Paul Green.
Robinson hijacked the spotlight on Thursday morning after he ridiculed North Queensland's interpretation of a Tariq Sims shoulder charge on Justin Hodges that had him rubbed out of the game for five weeks.
Green was on Wednesday hit with a $10,000 fine by the NRL for questioning the fairness of the code's judiciary panel, deciding not to fight the shoulder charge because of the Cowboys' lack of faith in the system.
Robinson was surprised by Green's comments, adamant the Sims tackle on Hodges was a blatant shoulder charge.
"I don't know why Paul did it, but it was his choice. It was a shoulder charge," Robinson said.
"If it was three weeks, five weeks or whatever it was, it was always going to get charged.
"I think they are [using it] to try to get ready for the game and so they should."
Robinson says his side are not the type of team that needs to post inspiration on boards, but judging by his comments on the eve of the semi-final against the Cowboys, they may have just found the right material.
Robinson was riled by a graphic published on the front page of Queensland newspaper the Townsville Bulletin on Thursday, in which Anthony Minichiello's face was placed on a chicken.
While Robinson did not criticise the Cowboys for the mockery of his skipper, he did not see the funny side to the graphic.
"There has been a bit of talk about disrespect in the last week and I think it's nothing to do with the Cowboys, they are building it up there, they are having a go at 'Mini'," Robinson said.
"They have him as a chook on the front page of the paper ... a guy who has played 300 games and is about to retire. The disrespect that they have shown by going down that road. They have definitely tried to build it up in North Queensland but they are coming down to Sydney – we're ready for them.
"We are not a team that posts stuff up on boards, people know that it's there. We play it tough in a way that we want to win, but with respect to the people around us. That stuff doesn't go down well."
What will go down well at the Roosters is the return of hooker Jake Friend after missing the past two games with fluid in the lungs following the round-25 win against Melbourne.
Friend had to have two litres of blood drained, but Robinson says the club is not taking a gamble on his health.
"From what we've seen and the person he is, I don't think he's a gamble," Robinson said.
"It's always hard to know because it's not a normal injury. He's proven himself enough this week and he'll be ready to go. He has passed all the physical tests, the way he recovers after training sessions, his contact session yesterday ... so all the physical markers are there, but sometimes you get some doubt in players.
"They get a look in their eye. Friendy has been hounding us since before last game. There's not even a question. He's not asking the question is he right to play, he's telling us he's right to play, which is a good sign."
