The 14-5 Penalty Count : Mon Jun 01, 2015 5:10 am  

A lot of anguish amongst the players about the ref's performance yesterday. I was sat next to David who was apoplectic about the penalty count. So why did we get caned by the referee? There is something about defending against a big side going forward who land on their fronts and get quick play the balls. But I think there is something more systemic than that. Can you imagine the outrage there would be during a game at Odsal if the ref gave a string of pens for nothing offences against the Bulls, killing momentum? No neither can I. The farcical 40/20 decision for example, from where I was I couldn't hear any reaction from the fans at all, nothing. Can you imagine what St Helens or Warrington fans would have said if that had happened to their side? There would have been blue murder. So here's the thing, I don't think the count would have been half as bad if the fans were on the ref's back from the outset.

This is nothing new. Brian McDermott complained regularly that Quins were given the fewest penalties in Super League, and often the most against. There has long been the view that London fans lack the rugby league culture on this. How many fans are genuinely passionate about the game as opposed to merely interested? I'm just asking the question!

I do believe there is a lack of collective passion where fans are together making a lot of noise. Where are the Loyal and Loud these days? Mostly stopped coming, unlikely to return as a lot of fans are from those days. Disloyal and Quiet? For the few of us who stayed for the 2 days, this was particularly noticeable at the Summer Bash. London was the only match not to get noisy, animated support. Even North Wales Crusaders from Championship 1 did much better!

So what can be done? I don't know. After 35 years will the culture ever change? Could there be fans initiatives? All pretty unlikely, so we will just have to continue to suffer horrendous penalty counts forever, probably in silence.

Re: The 14-5 Penalty Count : Mon Jun 01, 2015 6:43 am  

Ronnie I can assure you there was as much noise as is possible from the number of people about that 40/20 ruling? I agree the bias yesterday was like being back in Super League There are many things needed to build the Bronocos to success over the next 10 years (number 1 being to decide what we want and start towards it) and I can assure you the volume of crowd will follow!

Re: The 14-5 Penalty Count : Mon Jun 01, 2015 7:03 am  

I was apocalyptic and even the Bulls fans sat nearby couldn't explain why either.

Re: The 14-5 Penalty Count : Mon Jun 01, 2015 8:11 am  

I was sat pretty much where the ball bounced for the 40/20 that wasn't given (!) , I can assure you Ronnie that the London fans round me were apoplectic - and loud!!

Re: The 14-5 Penalty Count : Mon Jun 01, 2015 10:53 am  

Make as much noise as we like it would not have changed to tj decision.
Sorry guys but as for the penalties possibly chalk off 1 but that would still make it 13-5.
The simple fact yesterday was tackle technique, Bradford dominated the ruck which means they get the advantage at the ptb, we tried to slow it down and paid the price. The crowd noise may change that but only by encouraging the team, you are unlikely to change the refs way of doing stuff.
The fans initiative should be aimed at the players!

Re: The 14-5 Penalty Count : Mon Jun 01, 2015 3:51 pm  

Every team we've played looks to slow down the ruck. Your coach and consultant are both conversant with what needs to happen and you are going to have to get some powerful and quick forwards in to be able to make progress. It will be a real eye opener if SL quality refs are in charge of the middle eights and I can see Championship clubs getting blown away unless they can match the pace at the ruck.

Re: The 14-5 Penalty Count : Mon Jun 01, 2015 4:29 pm  

The reality is that every team we have played including Bradford have used a variety of means to slow the play the ball down. We arent any different, only in the eyes of the officials.

Re: The 14-5 Penalty Count : Mon Jun 01, 2015 7:19 pm  

Neither side was dominant in the ruck, nor on the edges. One side scored 5 tries on the set after a penalty, the other 1 or 2 tries. Without the pens, the game would have been something like 6-6.

A key issue for me was Bradford stepping forward off the mark all through the game and delaying the PTB - both illegal and both designed to extract penalties. And it worked - the ref and Broncos got schooled.

Re: The 14-5 Penalty Count : Mon Jun 01, 2015 7:41 pm  

I agree with Ronnie on this. Part of any team turning their home ground into a fortress is that the fans go some way towards intimidating the ref. That won't happen here, plus given the fact that referees will always shaft us on the penalty count effectively reduces any home advantage

Re: The 14-5 Penalty Count : Mon Jun 01, 2015 8:17 pm  

Bradford often played quicker that was the problem for LB.