Sydney Roosters front-rower Sam Moa rejects claims he intended to hurt Johnathan Thurston when on duty for New Zealand in the trans-Tasman Test, refuting suggestions he is a dirty player.

Moa was slammed for a late shot in Newcastle that left the Kangaroos five-eighth with whiplash, joining Kiwis teammate Adam Blair in being criticised for unfairly targeting Australian playmakers in the mid-year international.

Thurston's club coach, Paul Green, hit at what he described as "dirty, off-the-play stuff" when addressing Moa's shot on the Cowboys captain, saying teams were "looking at ways of nullifying players". Andrew Johns, meanwhile, said in commentary that the tackle was a "cheap shot".

Back with the Roosters in preparation for Monday's match against Gold Coast, Moa admitted the tackle had been late but refuted any suggestion he had tried to injure Thurston.

"I heard that Paul Green had a go at me," Moa said. "To be honest I'll cop it ... it was late. But did I intend to charge in there and give Johnathan whiplash? No. Did I try and do my job as a middle player trying to put pressure on ballplayers taking it to the line? Yes. I do agree it was a tad late, but there has been a few opinions going around that I purposely went after Thurston, which is a load of rubbish.

"I think Johnathan is easily the best player in the world at the moment and will probably go down in history as probably the best player in the history of the game. I've got to do my job when any half wants to take the ball to the line. Unfortunately on the weekend it didn't go to plan and it was late. I'll cop that but I won't cop that I'm a dirty player and I went after him, which is rubbish."

Moa's contact on Thurston and a similar hit by Blair on Cooper Cronk in the same match led to further calls, including from Johns, for the tackling of playmakers after they've passed at the line to be more scrutinised.

"Joey is probably just saying that because he's been in the same position at halfback," Moa said.

"I think if you watch the footage I pulled out a little bit. I could have kept charging full speed and knocked him but I actually pulled out.

"If the criticism is coming from the player himself, Johnathan Thurston, I'll cop that because I've got a lot of respect for him but others who are trying to have a go at my character, I think it's uncalled for."

Moa's New Zealand teammate Blair was the target of more scorn for a chicken-wing tackle on Sam Thaiday, with former Brisbane captain Gorden Tallis labelling the Broncos forward "one of the dirtiest players on the field".

"I'd love to be a fly on the wall when [Blair and Tallis] cross paths," Moa said.