Melbourne Storm halfback Cooper Cronk has called on the NRL to work together to fix the rules and interpretations that have cost several sides wins this season.
Speaking on Easter Monday, a day after the Storm lost 24-22 to the Canberra Raiders on a contentious referee decision that ruled out a try from Storm winger Sisa Waqa, Cronk said all rugby league people needed to find solutions and stop blaming referees.
The Storm has been involved in two other controversial matches this season.
''I have absolute empathy for the referees and what they have to do because I don't have the ability to do what they do,'' Cronk said.
''I'm not here to point fingers and say yes, no or maybe; I think the game needs to unite at times like this, not point the finger at who is to blame.
''There needs to be some leadership from the top and work through the issues that are facing rugby league at the moment,'' he said.
''Every stakeholder in the game, whether player, staff or referee, they all want the product of rugby league to be the best it possibly can be.
''We are talking about a few incidents which shouldn't normally be spoken about,'' Cronk said.
''I hope the NRL can take this as an opportunity to work through these issues and we can get back to enjoying what rugby league is about.''
Cronk said the NRL and the game's rules needed to be governed better.
''I don't think for one minute that there is conspiracies or anything like that," he said.
''It's just the way the game is governed and some of the rule interpretations.
''I'm not saying the referees need to do this or the players need to do that; the game as a whole needs to stand up, take some leadership point of views, get together and work through these issues.
''It's an opportunity for the governing body to make a stand,'' Cronk said.
The Storm face a short turnaround to their next game when they host the New Zealand Warriors at AAMI Park for their annual Anzac Day game this Friday night. More than 22,000 tickets have been sold for the match and both sides are desperate for the win.
Cronk said the Storm had to get over the self-enforced errors that have plagued the team in its losses, including several missed tackles against the Raiders on Sunday.
''We make it tough on ourselves no doubt about it,'' Cronk said.
''I think when we start training now there needs to be some consequences for dropped balls and missed tackles.
''We are nowhere near where we are capable of being and there is an opportunity to resurrect that in the coming weeks,'' he said.
''When we play our best football, we are a dangerous football team and when we don't, we are average.
''I'm very confident in my own ability and I know the boys are confident - this team is capable of playing some really good football, hopefully we can start putting in those rock-solid performances.''
With the State of Origin series fast approaching, Cronk also backed Storm teammate Billy Slater to be Queensland's full-back for the first game despite debate about whether Greg Inglis should be named in the position.
''With Bill at the back and Greg at the centres we have really great balance,'' Cronk said.
''I'm a big believer that selectors don't pick teams, I think players play to a level where they make it impossible for them not to pick you.
''Bill has been a fantastic contributor and I don't think that will change.
''I'm sure Bill will play to the ability he has and Mal [coach Mal Meninga] will organise what he needs to organise - I'm very confident in the whole set-up we have and don't think it has to change.''
The Storm hosts the Warriors at AAMI Park on Friday night at 6pm.
