The 50 most penalised players in the NRL

Coaches instil discipline into players but there are always plenty who test the referee’s patience more than others. These are the 50 most penalised players since Cameron Smith made his debut in 2002.

Coaches instil discipline into players but there are always plenty who test the referee’s patience more than others. These are the 50 most penalised players since Cameron Smith made his debut in 2002.

One player, Ryan James, who is contracted to move to Canberra from the Gold Coast, causes referees and coaches more grief than any other, averaging more than one penalty per game.

Cameron Smith, thanks to his longevity, tops the list.

TOP 50: The 50 best tacklers of the modern era

Most penalised players since 2002

Player	Games	Penalties	Average
1. C. Smith	425	249	0.59
2. J. Maloney	247	244	0.99
3. M. Ennis	273	228	0.84
4. A. Watmough	303	224	0.74
5. L. Lewis	321	214	0.67
6. J. Thurston	323	202	0.63
7. J. Waerea-Hargreaves	233	198	0.85
8. P. Gallen	346	195	0.56
9. A. Blair	328	185	0.56
10. A. Fifita	219	174	0.79
11. B. Scott	244	171	0.70
12. J. Friend	260	164	0.63
13. A. Harrison	229	162	0.71
14. P. Wallace	240	158	0.66
15. L. Priddis	192	153	0.80
16. S. Burgess	182	152	0.84
17. N. Myles	233	152	0.65
18. R. Farah	303	151	0.50
19. M. Pearce	293	148	0.51
20. A. Woods	205	148	0.72
21. R. James	144	146	1.01
22. C. Cronk	372	143	0.38
23. C. Parker	334	143	0.43
24. J. Ryles	214	143	0.67
25. L. Bailey	239	142	0.59
26. M. Minichiello	259	139	0.54
27. N. Hindmarsh	236	138	0.58
28. R.Hoffman	325	138	0.42
29. W. Mason	258	138	0.53
30. J. Morris	294	138	0.47
31. B. Kimmorley	186	137	0.74
32. I. Luke	283	137	0.48
33. S. Mannering	301	136	0.45
34. G. Bird	235	134	0.57
35. B. Creagh	270	134	0.50
36. M. Crocker	182	133	0.73
37. C. Heighington	338	132	0.39
38 .J. Tamou	262	132	0.39
39. S. Matai	230	131	0.57
40. M. Jennings	295	130	0.44
41. K. Gidley	250	127	0.51
42. S. Thaiday	304	124	0.41
43. S. Fensom	176	122	0.69
44. D. Shillington	215	120	0.56
45. G. Cooper	320	119	0.37
46. A. Laffranchi	203	119	0.59
47. J.King	238	118	0.50
48. A. McCullough	268	118	0.44
49. L. O'Donnell	152	118	0.78
50. W. Graham	246	116	0.47

Most penalised players in NRL