Contrary to popular belief, the Sydney Roosters might be being treated harshly by NRL referees.
A report in The Daily Telegraph has crunched the numbers and found that the Roosters have won the penalty count in just 29 per cent of matches Trent Robinson has coached since 2013.
With by far the biggest penalty differential since Robinson has been in the job, Sydney legend Luke Ricketson said there’s a subconscious bias against his old club, claiming “these statistics don’t lie”.
Leaning into the belief of rugby league fans that Roosters Chairman Nick Politis has a big influence on the competition’s powerbrokers, SEN host Andew Voss proposed a theory as to why the club might be often on the unlucky end of referee decisions.
“In 227 games under Robinson, the Roosters have a penalty count of minus 243, which is more than double the next worst team than the Tigers,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Often it’s expressed, and I’ll be as blunt as you like, people say ‘Uncle Nick’, they talk about Nick Politis’ influence on the game.
“Well perhaps it’s the reverse psychology, the referees’ subconscious bias don’t want to be seen to buy into that perception that things are done to favour the Roosters, and they end up going against the Roosters, as highlighted by the penalty count.
“That’s just a theory, but perception is reality.”