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The NRL will investigate the failure of the referees to stop play during North Queensland's win over Melbourne while Nene Macdonald was down with a leg injury.

The NRL will investigate their referees after North Queensland coach Paul Green described as a "disgrace" their failure to stop play while Nene Macdonald was down with a potentially season-ending leg injury.

Whistleblowers Grant Atkins and his assistant Gavin Badger are under fire after they allowed play to continue despite Cowboys players Macdonald and John Asiata being down in back play.

The Cowboys confirmed that the winger had suffered a fracture and dislocation of his ankle and will have surgery on Saturday.

He is expected to miss four to six months, possibly ruling him out for the rest of the season.

Green unloaded on the officials, saying they failed their duty of care and put his players at risk by not halting play.

"It was an absolute debacle, it's a disgrace," he said.

"We've got a guy there with a fractured dislocation of his ankle, clearly distressed, our doctor on the field and we get sent away, play on.

"Tonight our player's welfare and safety was put at risk."

According to NRL rules, play can be halted if a trainer tells a touch judge or official that one of their players is down with a serious injury and needs treatment.

On-field, Atkins told Cowboys skipper Michael Morgan he was never alerted that play needed to be brought to a stop.

However a furious Green said that his trainers and doctors made several approaches to officials.

He said one of his trainers pleaded with the pocket referee but was waived away.

The NRL said they would review the incident but head of football Graham Annesley said the referees were never alerted to the situation.

"The laws of the game allow for play to continue while players are out of play and treated for minor injuries, but it has always been the case that when referees become aware of a possible serious injury, the game should stop," Annesley said.

"Last night there was ample opportunity for that to happen, but it didn't.

"We will review the video and audio of the incident and consider all the relevant circumstances to hopefully prevent it from happening again".

Morgan said he couldn't comprehend why play wasn't stopped.

"A little bit of common sense needs to be involved. They stopped the game for two bloody noses but couldn't stop the game for a broken leg," Morgan said.