Cowboys coach
Todd Payten says lower-placed NRL teams are treated worse by referees than the good sides.
Payten blew up last weekend, declaring: “Teams that have been up the pointy end of the competition for a while now, or have high-profile players get the benefit of the doubt too often, and that’s frustrating.
“That’s my opinion from watching footy for a long time.”
And here are some statistics from the last three seasons when the new rules were introduced that actually back up his claims.
The teams that have had most players sin-binned are the Warriors (18) and the Wests Tigers and the Broncos (15).
The Bulldogs, Cowboys and Titans are also in the ‘top eight’ for most sin-bins, all with 14.
At the other end of the scale the Penrith Panthers have had only five sin-binned in the last three seasons.
This isn’t to say they are getting preferential treatment and it could be that they are just a more disciplined team.
The Warriors, Broncos, Bulldogs, Titans, Wests Tigers and Raiders are also in the ‘top eight’ for most penalties conceded with the Sydney Roosters.
Wooden spooners the Bulldogs have also conceded the most six-again restarts.
NRL key areas of discipline since 2020 rule changes
SIN BINS
Warriors 18
Wests Tigers 15
Broncos 15
Gold Coast 14
Manly 14
Cowboys 14
Bulldogs 14
Sharks 13
Rabbitohs 12
Roosters 12
Knights 10
Eels 10
Storm 9
Raiders 8
Dragons 8
Panthers 5
PENALTIES CONCEDED
Roosters 5.4
Warriors 5.2
Broncos 5.2
Bulldogs 5.1
Titans 5.1
Wests Tigers 5.1
Raiders 5
Storm 5
Cowboys 5
Sharks 4.8
Panthers 4.8
Sea Eagles 4.5
Knights 4.2
Rabbitohs 4.1
Dragons 4
Eels 3.9
SET RESTARTS CONCEDED
Bulldogs 4.1
Sea Eagles 3.9
Storm 3.8
Wests Tigers 3.8
Titans 3.7
Raiders 3.6
Roosters 3.6
Dragons 3.5
Eels 3.4
Warriors 3.4
Cowboys 3.4
Panthers 3.3
Broncos 3.1
Knights 3.1
Rabbitohs 3.1
Sharks 2.9
