The hidden truth of NRL penalty counts referees can’t explain

We’ve crunched the numbers on penalty counts for every NRL team and come up with some troubling statistics that referees simply cannot account for

The Warriors get the fewest penalties away from home. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

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In the wake of the hammering the New Zealand Warriors copped of the match officials at Parramatta last weekend, we decided to check on the home and away penalty counts for every NRL team this year.

And it’s no wonder some fans think they get a raw deal when playing away.

We’ve always known it is a massive advantage for any team to play in front of their home crowd.

But what Fox Sports Stats also show is that there are certain clubs who struggle more than others when they are playing away, even when their discipline at home is consistently better than their opposition.

In fact, it is the two teams who travel the farthest - the Warriors and North Queensland Cowboys - who seem to get the better, or worst of it, depending on where they are playing.

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The Warriors get the fewest penalties away from home. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

The NRL this week conceded that Stephen Kearney had every right to be blowing up about some of the decisions that went against his team in the 9-2 count at Bankwest Stadium.

While it ultimately led to the four match officials getting dumped, that is really small consolation given it also pretty much ended the Warriors’ hopes of playing in the finals this year.

But as Fox Sports Stats show, in nine games at home this year the Warriors have won eight penalty counts. That would lead you to believe they are a well disciplined team.

Yet curiously in away games the Warriors have only finished on the right side of the count in three of nine games.

It’s a similar story with fellow long-haul travellers North Queensland who have won seven of nine penalty counts at home but only three of nine away.

While there is no question some clubs have better discipline than others, it still seems a glaring discrepancy that you couldn’t blame fans for questioning.

Here is the overall breakdown of how your team goes with home and away penalty counts:

Team	Penalty Counts Won/Lost At Home	Penalty Counts Won/Lost Away
Brisbane	Won four, lost four	Won six, lost three, drawn two
Canberra	Won five, lost four	Won four, lost four, drawn one
Canterbury	Won three, lost four, drawn two	Won one, lost seven, drawn one
Cronulla	Won four, lost three, drawn one	Won two, lost eight
Gold Coast	Won six, lost four	Won five, lost two, drawn one
Manly	Won three, lost two, drawn four	Won three, lost six
Melbourne	Won five, lost four	Won three, lost six
Newcastle	Won four, lost four, drawn two	Won three, lost four, drawn one
North Queensland	Won seven, lost one, drawn one	Won three, lost four, drawn two
Parramatta	Won six, lost three	Won five, lost one, drawn three
Penrith	Won three, lost five, drawn two	Won one, lost six, drawn one
South Sydney	Won six, lost three	Won five, lost four
St George Illawarra	Won three, lost five	Won three, lost five, drawn two
Roosters	Won three, lost three, drawn two	Won one, lost seven, drawn one
New Zealand	Won eight, lost one	Won three, lost five, drawn one
Wests Tigers	Won six, lost one, drawn two	Won three, lost four, drawn two

WOMBAT IS DUG DOWN DEEP

Manly’s legendary fullback Graham Eadie was the original “Wombat”. Now Melbourne Storm super sub Brandon Smith has taken on the nickname and is fast developing into one of the NRL’s new fan favourites.

But rival clubs might want to forget chasing him because Smith has intention of chasing greener pastures in Sydney.

Standing at 180cm and weighing just 94kg, the robust little Kiwi forward looks nothing like most of the modern day rugby league athletes. But when it comes to playing the game he is also like a throwback to the old days.

Smith is their heir apparent to a legend. Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images.

Craig Bellamy gave the new “Wombat” a huge rap during the week when he declared on NRL 360 that the 23-year-old “is going to be one hell of a player for a long period of time”.

But the other thing that makes Smith so popular with his teammates, whether it be at the Storm or playing for New Zealand, is the “little loose ends” Bellamy spoke about.

Apparently, Smith was as wild as they come when he first arrived in Melbourne from North Queensland, living his life off the field pretty much how he plays his footy.

“But the thing I love about him,” Bellamy said, “is that he is just a competitor. And there is no sort of second or third gear with Brandon. It is either stop or full pace, and that is how I like my footy players. He is a tough little unit.”

Smith is fats becoming a fan favourite. Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images.

Manly’s inform backrower Curtis Sironen certainly attests to that having been on the receiving end of about three “Wombat” specials last Saturday night.

Sironen smiled: “He is just so strong”.

Smith was the best player on the field in New Zealand’s recent Test win over Tonga.

But with Cameron Smith still undecided how much longer he will go on, it remains to be seen how long the “Wombat” will have to wait before he finally gets the chance to nail down his favoured position.

The good thing for Melbourne is Brandon Smith has no desire to leave the Storm.

Melbourne is aware of a couple of Sydney clubs who have shown interest to get their hands on him but the Wombat isn’t going anywhere, given he is already locked up until 2022.