Meninga demands refs protect Thurston

Queensland coach Mal Meninga will meet with referees' boss Tony Archer seeking an assurance that chief playmaker Johnathan Thurston will be protected from being targeted by Blues hitman Beau Scott.

Scott terrorised the Maroons star when Newcastle upset North Queensland 16-14 in round two, with the Cowboys left fuming over their star halfback's treatment.

The Knights backrower was involved in several borderline tackles on Thurston during the NRL clash, including one late hit that left him crumpled on the turf after passing the ball.

Scott was also placed on report for a lifting tackle on the No. 6.

And while Scott has signaled he will target the Queensland five-eighth in Wednesday's State of Origin opener, Meninga is determined that the referees clamp down on any illegal play.

"Beau Scott is going to get to Thurston and let’s hope it’s legitimate," Meninga told News Limited.

"He is prepared for some late shots but if it’s late, penalise it."

Meninga's meeting with Archer comes after the Maroons mentor was left fuming last year after NSW coach Laurie Daley and his advisor Bob Fulton had a pre-series conference with the referees' boss without him.

Aside from his concern over Thurston, Meninga also wants a strict policing of the ruck area to ensure an up-tempo game to prevent the Blues stifling Queensland's attack.

Meninga's push for a quick play-the-ball comes after he took aim at NSW's selection policy, labelling the choice of four bench forwards as a "waste".

"I am going to talk to Archer about how his refs want to referee the game,” he said.

"The referees are doing a fantastic job, so I’m not going to go in there and whinge.

"But I want to know what they want in this game, how they are going to police the ruck. That is the crucial part.

"It’s so important in rugby league, so I want to know if the NRL standard will be applied to Origin standard."