Zero wins, the worst penalty differential in the NRL, and Parra sit anchored to the bottom of the table.
Is that the referees fault? No. Far from it.
To believe that would be to foolishly ignore the Eels poor football and place the blame squarely on external factors. This would only be adopting a victim mentality, and that won’t secure a single victory on the field.
However, there is an undeniable penalty differential trend that places the Eels as the worst disciplined team in the competition – in seasons when their performances do not deserve such results.
2018 – Worst penalty differential
2017 – Worst penalty differential
2016 – 5th worst penalty differential
2015 – Worst penalty differential
2014 – 2nd worst penalty differential
It’s the job of the Eels staff to determine how that can be remedied. Last season’s top 4 finish proved that it had little to do with winning, and in fact the Eels dominant victory over the Broncos at Suncorp provided the worst penalty differential of -8 (2 – 10 count).
Good luck with that fellas!
As a fan, my job is to “boo” the refs when the penalties don’t come our way, yell “get em onside” as the opposition creep up, reply with “they’ve been doing it all day” should that whistle blow in my team’s favour, or in this instance, have a friendly dig at the blokes in the middle.
Let’s be truthful, refereeing is a thankless task, though recent fan polls suggest that supporters are happy that the referees are taking back control of the game via penalties.
Nonetheless, those of us up in the stands or on the hill will always let the match officials know how we’re feeling in the heat of the moment during a game. It’s a universal right (so long as we don’t take it too far).
So, all you whistle blowers, the losses of my team aren’t your fault, but damn it – “Booooooooo!”
Now, here’s my slightly updated annual dig:
All football teams are provided with tip sheets about their opposition each week. They remind the players about what their opponents are likely to throw at them, or maybe highlight weaknesses that can be exploited.
Some time back, for a bit of fun, I “imagined” a similar tip sheet being distributed to referees. It would remind the officials of how matches are to be controlled in the NRL.
Remember, this is not factual. All referees do their job to the best of their ability, with very little praise. Do supporters of teams have moments where some of these thoughts cross their mind? Let’s see if you have a wry smile as you read on.
The Tip Sheet – Top 10 Reminders
1. (Insert poor performing team name) is not successful. They are poorly disciplined and will break rules because this is the only way that they can win. Sin bin or penalise freely. Better yet, just don’t award them any penalties.
🏉
2. (Insert high profile winning team) is successful and well coached. They might push the limits but their coach is very good at keeping their players within the rules. Repeated warnings will suffice when playing (insert poorly performing team).
🏉
3. (2018 update) You may now blow the pea out of the whistle against (insert name of successful favoured club) in the first half of a match. A sin bin is even permitted. However, ensure that the count evens up in the second half if they are playing (insert equally favoured team). High counts are now acceptable.
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4. (2018 update) A team judged to be perfect one week, can be found to be poorly disciplined the next. Feel free to adopt a similar interpretation between each half of football in the same match (see Tip 3)
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5. If (insert star players name) wishes to question your decision, please hear him out as he earned the right to dispute any of your decisions.
🏉
6. If (insert name of captain of lowly ranked team) questions your decision, dismiss his approach with disdain and allow a quick tap to the opposition. That will keep him in his place.
🏉
7. You don’t need to penalise a team to keep them in their place. Variable ruck speed and variable 10 metres (2018 update) work nicely. Remember, 50/50 calls are really 90/10s.
🏉
8. There are opportunities to even up a penalty count with minimal impact. A penalty on the first or second tackle is ideal. A penalty when the team has already earned possession through a line dropout works well, and a penalty with a few seconds left in the half or when the game is beyond reach can help the stats. This is the gift that keeps on giving!
🏉
9. If (insert favoured club name)- is being dominated by a lesser team, a penalty late in the tackle count for hands on the ball is ideal because all defenders will always put their hands on the ball. This rule is beautiful because, like the old scrum penalties, you can call them whichever way you want and they cannot be disputed.
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10. (2018 update) Do not take any credit for your on field control this year. It was Todd’s idea.
Eels forever!
Sixties
The reason why Parramatta are constantly near the bottom of the penalty count is because we are getting beaten at the ruck in most games – in my opinion.
For example, if we are unable to stop a team getting a quick play the ball, we’re constantly caught out of position at marker or inside the 10.
When we have the ball we are dominated, so the opposition have time to adjust.
It comes down to the size and strength of forward packs, and it has been well documented, Parramatta have by far the smallest pack in the NRL.
Thanks for the reply Mick.
I didn’t intend to get into serious form debate with this post, but I’m happy to throw in my quick two bobs worth.
Is the size and strength of our forward pack the reason for the penalty differential?
If only it were that simple. That can’t be used as the reason last year when our “smaller” pack laid the platform for 16 wins – wins when we were without both Gutho and French for a chunk of them.
The Eels have played poorly this year. Our forwards have been dominated. It becomes a chicken and the egg debate then. By the opposition dominating possession, the team fatigues quicker. How did they dominate possession? Parra’s poor play is the answer. Is that poor discipline, inability to complete sets, smaller pack?
The pack this week will be larger. Any pack with Rex, Terepo and Evans isn’t small. How will they be rotated?
I’d argue that players are not in good form and need to either lift or be dropped.
Back to penalties. Let me again use that Broncos game as an example. The Eels smashed the Broncos all over the park and were hammered 10 – 2 in the penalties. The issue is not with penalties conceded, it’s penalties received. That’s the big contributor in the Eels differential.
Size and strength of their forward pack has’nt helped Canberra or Nth Queensland much so far. Far too simplistic a reason for our problems.
Demonstrating your towering intellect again Mick.
Yes we give away way too many penalties but why don’t we get any penalties in return ? In a season where record amount of penalties are being blown we only got 3 last weekend ? Tigers gave away 18 against the Storm two weeks earlier how did they become so incredibly discipline in 2 weeks? and the Sharks conceded 14 penalties last weekend but were somehow squeaky clean for over 50 mins against Parra. Why is this the case?
No the refs are not the main reason we are losing but remember in 2 out of our 4 games we have scored the same amount of tries as our opposition with only penalties playing a difference.
I have one word for them Michael – BOOOOOOOOOO! 😁
The officials have been avg for a while imo; and certain teams have pushed the rules to be amended at times which has affected the way teams are refereed. Why do we need a competition committee? It is more bureaucracy.
You have rules and they need to be enforced. Whenever we allow coaches on committees agendas get involved.
Countless times the refs have failed to police the ruck and 10 m; and it still occurs. Look at any game this weekend and you will see markers splitting early and look how many penalties are given for this. Go to our game against Cronulla (they split earlier than contestants on MAFS).
Teams are not perfect by any means and they all push the limits. I believe it goes deeper at times to the point where coaches are muzzled, therefore no-one (unless media) talks about it.It may end up being clubs get fined for talking negatively about the NRL….who knows.
Your parody peice asks a good question – what have the Eels done to the refereeing Gods to deserve the weekly flogging by the refs?
Somewhere, somehow, someone has broken a refs mirror or worse.
Agree It’s the job of the Eels staff to determine how this curse can be remedied and also agree – the Eels position at the bottom of the table is because of our POOR form and questionable tactics.
60’s good post and a worthy read, wonder how the whistle men would receive it if they read it? a new pea for their whistle perhaps?
Perhaps, after reading this and a couple of other articles this morning, I finally concede that we need a change in the on field captains. Tim is a great person, and I believe better player than many give him credit for, but he is treated with disdain and generally brushed aside by the refs. Beau, is the exact opposite and aggressive in his approach, as a result he is not listened to by the refs and brushed aside, with them often putting two fingers over their mouths to tell him to shut up.
I think we need a new captain that is on the field for the full 80, one who can be respected by the refs by their respectfully approaching them and treating them with respect, (even if not due) they are the bosses on the day and they have deemed respect whether we or the players agree with that, until it happens we will be pounded by them.
Players overall have to stop trying to gain some minor advantage in front of the refs, this is where Kenny fails, his quick tap and try against saints a couple of years back may have been great but he exploited the rules and the refs paid for it, now he’s watched like a hawk. Moses spray on Sunday could be the best thing to have been done to him.
I am hoping that this weekend will be the start of the climb.
In my opinion this crap about discipline is just a huge wankfest which allows referees to have a hand in deciding the result. Why is discipline all of a sudden such a major deciding factor in results? Do you ever hear people say “Gee that Canberra side from the late 80’s was an incredible side, so well disciplined”. No people talk about their attacking ability and their defensive effort. But now it is all about how well disciplined a team is and it is just a manufactured load of rubbish.
Just reiterating on my previous post about our forward roster
Beu scott retired this year
Vave needs to go
Gower go
Matagi go
Williams go
Mau in 18 needs to go
Mannah 1 more year
That’s 7 for that need to be replaced and mostly for 2018.
Now can anyone explain how Parramatta are going to replace all these forwards?
Its a position this club shouldn’t be in.
Mick
Just let it go. No one is listening to your message anymore
Mick, I think you are being unfair in regards to some of the forwards, certainly some are feeling the effect of age, and I think that Beau Scott has served well but certainly down this year, I believe a degree of that may be the personal affect the health of his sick children is having, Perhaps he could be given some compassionate leave if needed, he also could be an asset in helping some of the up and coming forwards as a coach. He certainly has a lot that could benefit the club.
Trex has played in one game, and from all reports did ok, sure no win but when on he provided the power for that late game resurgence. Give him some time and get match fit he can very much be a VG or excellent impact player off the bench, he may be what we need in that area.
Gower has never let the club down when he has been in the top side, he has a contract until the end of this year, as such he is worth . Matagi and Vave are off contract end of year, so a coach decision, and Mannah is off contract end of 2019. Tim, also does more than many give him credit for.
So, in your eyes we only have 2 players worth starting, we can run on the field with 4 forwards until the usual 20 minute bench player changes take place???
I reckon four will be replaced.
One replacement into the top 30 will come from within – Ray Stone (development contract). So maybe we recruit 3-4 forwards.
The Warriors recruited at least 4 big forwards (off the top of my head) – Pulu, Paasi, Harris, Blair.
I’m possibly missing one.
There will be a few around for next year. The sky wont fall. But agree, we need to be in the marketplace.
Penaltys and possesion are harming our results but it is our poor discipline that leads to both problema so clean it up ,therein lies the problem not so easy ,anyone who thinks refs dont have fav teams and players are deluding themselves ,,same goes for the dislike factor so we live with that ,all players make mistakes and i live with that ,what i wont live with is repeat serial offenders who do the stupid things week in week out, dont learn dont play , simple for me !!!
It’s sad because it’s true.
Good thoughts Sixties.
I have been banging on for some time about it being about the penalties we do NOT get. I have been to every game and can’t believe the times refs have jumped on us for seemingly minor breaches and let go glaring breaches by opposition teams. Sharks did not get offside once in 51 mins? or hands on the ball? or markers always perfectly square? or no players laying in the ruck? The refs only see what they want to see. This is evident when opposition players are offside and the ref absolutely refuses to look along the line. Last Monday I saw (from a good view in Eastern Stand) a number of times Tigers players deliberately offside and no penalty. Obviously they were not getting penalised so why worry about being offside. Too, last Monday we seemed to have the so-called assistant ref mostly “reffing” us when we were defending while the main ref mistle “reffed” when Tigers defending. This was also noticed by others sitting near me.
Regarding 50/50 calls, recently it seems more like 100/0.
Refs do keep count of penalties. Have heard them say so to players thru game microphones when watching other games on TV. What bugs fans is a rush of penalties when game is clearly over on the scoreboard to even up the penalty count. As Warren Ryan used to constantly bang on about it is the 5th (or 4th) tackle penalties that often decide a game as it is after penalties that nearly all tries come.
Of course we need to play better. Forwards must lay a platform otherwise we cannot expect the halves to do what they need to do in a game. Let’s hope that opportunity is equally given to both teams on Sunday.
I’ll be there cheering like mad.
Ive had a few people mention the way the refs split their work during the game and how the ten metres was different. I cant remember that happening in other games.
Any positives ,you sound familiar !