Johnathan Thurston has fumed over the seven-tackle set rule after it proved costly for the Dragons in their loss to the Bulldogs.

It comes as Dragons coach Shane Flanagan also delivered a take of disappointment from the final Las Vegas fixture, calling some decisions “strange”.

The frustration for Thurston came when Daniel Atkinson attempted a field goal from halfway late in extra time which missed and was caught on the full in goal by Connor Tracey.

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Johnathan Thurston on Nine’s panel. Nine

That gifted the Bulldogs seven tackles before they eventually ended up in attacking territory with Stephen Crichton slotting a winning field goal.

Thurston believes in the context of trying to win, the rule should be changed.

“The Dragons were going for the win and they’ve caught it in goal and that’s a seven-tackle set. If they’re going for the win and the game, why’s it a seven-tackle set and not a six-tackle set?,” he said on Nine’s post-match coverage.

“That’s a massive disadvantage for that team. They’re going for the win. We want them to have a crack at it and they’re getting punished for it.”

That winning set for the Bulldogs came off the back of a penalty against the Dragons when Ryan Couchman was ruled to have stripped the ball from Bronson Xerri.

Flanagan said post-match that was a “loose carry every day of the week” after stating a draw would have been “the right decision today”.

The Dragons coach was also highly complimentary of how the week ran in Las Vegas and didn’t believe it deserved to end like that.

“When the game gets decided like that, it’s disappointing,” he said.

Flanagan was also frustrated that Crichton managed to stay on the field after a high tackle in the 33rd minute.

Damien Cook and Shane Flanagan. NRL

In his press conference, it was put to the Dragons coach there was an element of inconsistency after Cowboys back Braidon Burns was sin-binned for a high tackle in the previous match.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten expressed his disappointment with the inconsistency of high tackle decisions in his match, and Flanagan seemed to agree.

“Like seriously, come on. There was about six or seven of them,” he said.