Apologies if this is old news (I know it has been discussed on these boards before), but just seen the attached comments from PC on the SKY site.....his point is that teams with small crowds (i.e. less noise to influence the ref) are awarded fewer penalties.

"After six rounds of Super League in 2009, I'd like to highlight an interesting point. Harlequins and Celtic Crusaders, both teams with less than the average size support, have received significantly fewer penalties than the other teams. When you take a look back to last season, you'd be amazed to see Harlequins statistics.

On average a team in Super League were awarded 225 penalties over 27 games in 2008. St Helens were actually awarded the most (264) and the other teams all received a minimum of over 200.

The exception were Brian McDermott's Harlequins who were given just 170. Now 55 penalties less than the average is a massive amount.

It's important to remember that a third of all tries scored in Super League originate from a penalty, so you can see the importance of having the referee raise his arm in your favour.

Just trying to stress the point, Harlequins are not a dirty or ill-disciplined side. They've conceded fewer penalties than any other team in Super League this year, it's just that they can't seem to get the referee to award them one!

It might be worth the Harlequins buying the equivalent of some canned laughter. Is there a soundtrack available of supporters appealing to the referee for a penalty that they could play through their PA system?"

At least now we know it is nothing to do with the ingrained predjudice of the man in the middle and his team just because we are outside the northern heartlands

The fake crowd noises over the tannoy at Huddersfield sounded silly.

Maybe though we could have just a couple of 'GERREMONSIDE' and 'FORWARD!' that can be played at the appropriate moment.

Perhaps the Cas commentators line of "If thats 10 metres I wouldn't ever want him to lay my carpet" could be played from the PA aswell.

Interesting point though from Phil Clarke, maybe we need to be more vocal in letting the ref know the probem, but will this not contradict the RFL's 'respect' policy.

What fake crowd noise?

The ones they were playing at Hudds, they definitely had some fake noises coming over their PA system

Drums certainly were

Have always said and will continue to say that L 'n' L needs a drum and a few horns.

The widnes reggae band were immense

except that's a whole different reason to trying to ensure clarity on the penalty count, or perhaps you think Ganson et al can translate BANG BANG DIDDLE DIDDLE BANG TRUMP TRUMP as "I think that pass was a trifle forward Mr merry whistle blower"

Or we could have an idiot on the PA urging home supporters to shout for offside and other infringements like Cas did three years ago? And they still got relegated.

The drum is a supporter on the main stand side. And no extra noise comes over the tannoy I can assure you of that.
It does as some clubs but not Huddersfield.

There was a meeting about this between Cummings and McDermott before the season started, so I am disappointed that we are still last.

Its not just last year (200icon_cool.gif, it was the year before as well (2007) and that year we topped the Fair Play League.


up to Phil Clarke for pointing this out though.

Another rant. How come Our players play the 10 metre rule so well. Sometimes the opposition could shake the Quins players hand at the PTB.Are You reading Ben Failure

I appreciate its not an easy job reffing in Super League but if I really concerned myself with these stats I would have stopped going back in the Brentford days.

I really enjoy watching Rugby League but have accepted that some clubs get more of a rub of the green than others.

Its not satisfactory to me but I have to like it or lump it.

True, we as fans have very little say, but I feel our club could represent themselves better, not by being un-constructive and difficult, but by working closely with the rfl and where necessary putting our case forward in a stronger fashion.

Part of this is no doubt probably down to a lack of CEO and strong leadership. Hopefully the appointment of a general manager will go some way to rectifying this.

- Unfair suspensions last season (maybe five of our players deserved the bans - but they weren't fighting their own shadows!)
- Losing Julien Rinaldi because we followed the RFL's rules to the letter on overseas players. A rule that other clubs didn't follow. Instead they complained and got a clause added.
- Having the fewest penalties awarded to us in two consecutive seasons (and not getting off to the best of starts this year)

Meanwhile Hull proceed to the Challenge Cup final despite fielding an ineligible player for two consecutive rounds, promised new stadiums from other clubs show very little signs of actually materialising and how many more times do St Helens need to commit a “minor” breech of the salary cap before someone at Red Hall notices its becoming a habit?

Clarky has got this right. Ive been saying this for years and any one who has been to see teams like Saints at home bully (sorry infuence ) the ref into giving penalties for offside or forward passes will understand the way it works. We managed it ourselves against Wigan a few weeks ago for offside. We gave a big shout after we all thought they were offside at the PTB which the ref ignored then on the next PTB the crowd screamed at a higher level and the ref gave it - Penalty to the crowd IMO. This offside business, is very subjective. High tackles are often blown for which are often marginal but a big scream from the crowd often works as i think the ref doesnt want people to say he missed it.
In a perfect world all teams would get a fair call from the ref but it isnt a fair world. So much in RL is subjective and if we are to be a success we need to get more vocal over these things at games. Penalties win games and we need to even up the calls if we want the points.