North Queensland boss Peter Jourdain says it is time for his club to move on from their controversial finals exit after meeting with NRL boss Dave Smith in Sydney on Monday.

However, Jourdain said he could understand the reaction by Cowboys staff and fans to their 20-18 finals loss marred by Cronulla’s seven-tackle try.

Cowboys coach Neil Henry suggested conspiracy theories against non-Sydney teams during the post-match press conference on Saturday night.

North Queensland co-captain Johnathan Thurston then claimed Queensland’s State of Origin dominance was behind the refereeing howler which helped knock the Cowboys out of the NRL finals.

The NRL is not expected to fine the Cowboys over the claims.

Thousands of supporters registered on an on-line petition to get the Cowboys back into the finals after Queensland politician Scott Emerson claimed the NRL should reverse the result.

The Cowboys were also angry over the lack of post-match security at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium after claiming their players were abused and manhandled by Sharks supporters.

But Jourdain said the club must turn their attention to 2014.

“I have met today with NRL CEO Dave Smith in Sydney to discuss a number of aspects of what transpired before, during and after the final, including the on-field officiating and the lack of security for our players post-match,” he said in a statement.

“I received assurances from Dave that the matters are being investigated and appropriate action will be taken by the NRL.

“The Cowboys will, of course, abide by the decisions made on the field on Saturday, even though there was a clear error in the first half that has been admitted to by the NRL.

“Unfortunately in this case there is no option to force a re-match or have the result overturned.”

But Jourdain understood the reaction from fans and club staff to the finals loss.

“We believe the outpouring of emotion from everyone involved in our club, and our member and supporter base, has been appropriate given what has happened to the Cowboys in the past two finals series,” he said.

“Incorrect decisions that seriously affect the outcome of a game must be avoided given the enormous impact they can have on a club and the code overall.

“(But) we will now be turning our focus to the 2014 season when we again expect to be fighting for the premiership.”