#PenaltySharks

[Number6]

The recent bullshit about PenaltyBroncos had me wondering about penalties received and where we stood historically. I decided a little research and tabulation was required and I was surprised by some of the results of my endeavours. I went back to 2000 so this is only the last 18 years including the first 11 rounds of this season.

I totalled penalties received, a stat over which no team has any real control.

The referees darling team surprised me, Cronulla!!

Cronulla : 3138

Cowboys : 3110
St George : 2997
Parramatta : 2991
Westigers : 2989
Canberra : 2988
Souths : 2985
Melbourne : 2981
Penrith : 2956
Manly : 2873
Newcastle : 2845
Warriors : 2824
Bulldogs : 2819
Roosters : 2817

Last of all THE BRONCOS !!! with 2816.

I found it quite surprising that such famous clubs as the Roosters and Canterbury were our closest neighbours on the list. I left out the Gold Coast as they did not have the full eighteen years and with Souths, I filled in their total with the season averages for their absent years.

Please, someone start a PenaltySharks meme going for Facebook and let's start sharing !!!

Amazing work. Agree penalties conceded would be key comparator. Also be interesting to see year by year and place finished on ladder.

18 years is a long time in sport so if there was bias it might be only over a short period till a team gets its fairytale then moves to next darling.

Also as stated question is how many are correct calls or square ups when it doesn’t count but can’t measure that without a PHD student. A lot of teams concede penalties or hold down longer without penalties. The ones that aren’t blown are just as important.

For me the closeness of counts is surprising assuming no bid to even up counts given some teams play in ways more likely to concede penalties. However since so long a period playing styles, players and coaches change too. Too much raw data can be as much a problem as too little at times.