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Well here are the stats for those that blame the refs for every loss...and even when we win.
NRL 2021: The best and worst referees for each club
Some whistleblowers seem to suit some teams and not others. Well, as the NRL approaches the business end of the season, the numbers are in. Find out your team’s bogey referee.
Nick Walshaw
7 min read
July 29, 2021 - 7:00AM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
5. ROOSTERS
Points: 26
Worst referee: Gerard Sutton. Winning ratio: 33%
What’s doing with Gerry and the Roosters? In six games overseen by Sutton, the Roosters have won just two – including last week’s success over Newcastle, which still had a host of Chooks fans, including Aussie cricketer Dave Warner, lighting him up on social media. Of all referees who have controlled more than one Tricolours game, Sutton is the only official with a negative differential.
Best referee: The Roosters are undefeated under Grant Atkins and Ben Cummins, who have controlled five games each over the past two years.
Other teams:
1. MELBOURNE
Competition points: 34
Worst referee: Grant Atkins. Winning ratio: 71%
Probably no surprise to learn Melbourne does fairly well no matter who officiates, although they have dropped two of seven games under Atkins. Special mention also to Ben Cummins, who awards Storm the least penalties per game (3.5), calls the most set restart penalties against them and has previously sin-binned no less than Cam Smith.
Best referee: The reigning premiers have won all eight games under Gerard Sutton, including the 2020 NRL grand final.
2. PENRITH
Points: 34
Worst referee: Ben Cummins. Winning ratio: 75%
OK, so Cummins may have the lowest numbers but know, out Penrith way, Ashley Klein has long been considered the club’s bogey referee. While the Panthers have won six of seven under his control since the new rules came in, Klein still awards the Panthers fewer penalties (4.3) than any referee who has controlled more than one of their games under the new rules. Also equal highest when it comes to awarding set restarts against the mountain men.
Best referee: Panthers have won all five games officiated by Matt Cecchin, and all four under Adam Gee.
3. SOUTH SYDNEY
Points: 32
Worst referee: Ashley Klein. Winning ratio: 33%
For those of us who love a Charity Shield match in Mudgee, one of the enduring images is Souths prop Sam Burgess towering over Klein after being pinged for a high shot on Dragon Jordan Pereira, screaming: “What’s that for? He’s f … ing five foot.” Sure, it was 2019. But the sentiment remains inside Rabbitohs HQ. In six games under Klein, Souths have won just two. They’re also averaging just 19 points in attack when he officiates, easily their worst under any referee.
Best referee: Ben Cummins. Has controlled six South Sydney games in the past two years, with the Bunnies winning every single one of them.
4. PARRAMATTA
Points: 28
Worst referee: Gerard Sutton. Winning ratio: 50%
Way back in 2017, when he wanted to make a point about Melbourne Storm wrasslin’ tactics, Eels coach Brad Arthur famously invited Gerard Sutton inside Eels HQ to oversee an opposed session during the playoffs. But this year? Let’s just say another invitation seems unlikely. Especially given that, over the past two winters, the Eels have won just four of eight games under the referee who also blows most penalties against them (3.9 per game) of any official to have overseen more than one of their games.
Best referee: The Eels have won all three games Matt Cecchin has controlled, and six of seven with Ben Cummins.
NRL 2021: The best and worst referees for each club
Some whistleblowers seem to suit some teams and not others. Well, as the NRL approaches the business end of the season, the numbers are in. Find out your team’s bogey referee.
Nick Walshaw
7 min read
July 29, 2021 - 7:00AM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
5. ROOSTERS
Points: 26
Worst referee: Gerard Sutton. Winning ratio: 33%
What’s doing with Gerry and the Roosters? In six games overseen by Sutton, the Roosters have won just two – including last week’s success over Newcastle, which still had a host of Chooks fans, including Aussie cricketer Dave Warner, lighting him up on social media. Of all referees who have controlled more than one Tricolours game, Sutton is the only official with a negative differential.
Best referee: The Roosters are undefeated under Grant Atkins and Ben Cummins, who have controlled five games each over the past two years.
Other teams:
1. MELBOURNE
Competition points: 34
Worst referee: Grant Atkins. Winning ratio: 71%
Probably no surprise to learn Melbourne does fairly well no matter who officiates, although they have dropped two of seven games under Atkins. Special mention also to Ben Cummins, who awards Storm the least penalties per game (3.5), calls the most set restart penalties against them and has previously sin-binned no less than Cam Smith.
Best referee: The reigning premiers have won all eight games under Gerard Sutton, including the 2020 NRL grand final.
2. PENRITH
Points: 34
Worst referee: Ben Cummins. Winning ratio: 75%
OK, so Cummins may have the lowest numbers but know, out Penrith way, Ashley Klein has long been considered the club’s bogey referee. While the Panthers have won six of seven under his control since the new rules came in, Klein still awards the Panthers fewer penalties (4.3) than any referee who has controlled more than one of their games under the new rules. Also equal highest when it comes to awarding set restarts against the mountain men.
Best referee: Panthers have won all five games officiated by Matt Cecchin, and all four under Adam Gee.
3. SOUTH SYDNEY
Points: 32
Worst referee: Ashley Klein. Winning ratio: 33%
For those of us who love a Charity Shield match in Mudgee, one of the enduring images is Souths prop Sam Burgess towering over Klein after being pinged for a high shot on Dragon Jordan Pereira, screaming: “What’s that for? He’s f … ing five foot.” Sure, it was 2019. But the sentiment remains inside Rabbitohs HQ. In six games under Klein, Souths have won just two. They’re also averaging just 19 points in attack when he officiates, easily their worst under any referee.
Best referee: Ben Cummins. Has controlled six South Sydney games in the past two years, with the Bunnies winning every single one of them.
4. PARRAMATTA
Points: 28
Worst referee: Gerard Sutton. Winning ratio: 50%
Way back in 2017, when he wanted to make a point about Melbourne Storm wrasslin’ tactics, Eels coach Brad Arthur famously invited Gerard Sutton inside Eels HQ to oversee an opposed session during the playoffs. But this year? Let’s just say another invitation seems unlikely. Especially given that, over the past two winters, the Eels have won just four of eight games under the referee who also blows most penalties against them (3.9 per game) of any official to have overseen more than one of their games.
Best referee: The Eels have won all three games Matt Cecchin has controlled, and six of seven with Ben Cummins.
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