Taken from RL fans apparently

[josie andrews]

Get yourself down to a Wigan game, both sides are squeaky clean every week. Game flows like the Nile!


https://x.com/thewiganway/status/190672 ... 84390?s=46

[Wiganer Ted]

This clearly indicates that when teams play Wigan they are refereed more leniently than playing against other Super League opposition.
OK we can beat Salford or Huddersfield at home when losing the penalty count.
The visit to Headingly proved we can't win away whilst referees are officiating this way. Leeds benefitted from a penalty count of 5-1 in their favour. Leeds also had 3 six agains awarded when Wigan didn't have any.
So outcome is that Leeds were given 7 extra sets over Wigan being an extra 432 tackles. The result was we lost by 2 points.
Has anyone imagined what would have happened if the penalty count and six agains had been reversed?

Our next away game is at HKR. If the referee does the same again then the possibility of a Wigan win are pretty remote to put it mildly.

[the pieman]

this is the RLFans thread

https://www.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 69&ipage=1

NickyKiss, a regular on here started it and its interesting to read

Basically our matches are being ref'd differently to all other games by the looks of it. We have conceded but also received the least number of penalties across our opening games. When we played Hudds and Salford who on average concede umpteen penalties, they have conceded very few against us, way below their average

so the question is, why are our games so different to the rest?

[PoppaG]

I mentioned this to my lad at the Hull loss in the Cup as I thought it was fairly blatent.

For my tuppence - I believe that the decision was made before the season started that they COULDN'T allow last season to be repeated. Something that, from looking at squads, was a realistic possibility.

I recon every game we played (especially in the cup) would have been officiated against us, so was glad to go out early as it wasn't worth wasting effort on. With playing every game on offer last season, I'd rather be able to give the lads the odd weeks rest.

I just hope that with being out of the cup now, they get it out of their system and as the season progresses things start to even out.

[WIGIAN]

So the obvious question is, if the stats agree and the evidence appears frightening ,why aren't we highlighting this to the authorities to at least apply some reverse psychology to the refs. It may also help us if we didn't get the same three guys every match

[moto748]

I've never been one to believe in conspiracy theories about 'they' don't want Wigan to win everything. And I don't believe that refs step out onto a pitch intending to favour one team or another.

But... something is clearly going on here. This is way beyond small sample size, or any other reason like that. Teams that give away a hatful of penalties when they play everyone else are suddenly squeaky-clean when they play Wigan? I don't buy it. MP would be entirely justified in bringing this to the attention of the authorities.

[josie andrews]

Ranking the worst disciplined Super League clubs to start 2025 season

A look at Super League's most penalised clubs to start the 2025 campaign.

Salford Red Devils lead the table for most penalties conceded to start the 2025 Super League campaign. Paul Rowley’s side, still under special measures amid their ongoing takeover, have given away 44 in the opening six rounds of action - an average of 7 per game.

Reigning champions Wigan Warriors are at the bottom of the list, with just 21 so far - an average of just 3.5. Leigh Leopards, Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves also occupy the bottom four on the table on the same amount.

Meanwhile, Leigh have the least amount of players on penalty points so far with two. The Rugby Football League announced new disciplinary guidelines ahead of the 2025 season that would focus more on punishing repeat offenders, with a points-based system.

Salford Red Devils have nine players with points on their records, with Jayden Nikorima and Joe Shorrocks having picked up suspensions. Hull FC and Hull KR are shortly behind with eight, while Warrington and Leeds have just three.

Hull and Salford have had four sin-bins to date, with Wigan and Catalans on three. Leigh, St Helens, Huddersfield and Warrington are yet to have anyone sent to the sin-bin, while no club has seen a player sent off.

1. Salford Red Devils - 44 penalties, nine players with penalty points, four sin-bins

2. Castleford Tigers - 38 penalties, four players with penalty points, one sin-bin

3. Hull FC - 33 penalties, eight players on penalty points, four sin-bins

4. Catalans Dragons - 32 penalties six players with penalty points, three sin-bins

5. Wakefield Trinity - 31 penalties, five players with penalty points, one sin-bin

6. St Helens - 29 penalties, seven players with penalty points, no sin-bins

7. Hull KR - 25 penalties, eight players with penalty points, one sin-bin

8. Huddersfield Giants - 25 penalties, five players with penalty points, no sin-bin

9. Leigh Leopards - 24 penalties, two players with penalty points, no sin-bins

10. Leeds Rhinos - 24 penalties, three players with penalty points, two sin-bins

11. Warrington Wolves - 24 penalties, three players with penalty points, no sin-bins

12. Wigan Warriors - 21 penalties, seven players with penalty points, three sin-bins






https://www.alloutrugbyleague.co.uk/new ... 48a1cfd938

[the pieman]

As i've gotten older i have focussed less on the refs during our games, so as to try and take the emotion out of it / take the blinkers off, but i have found myself getting upset at them during games when i am watching as a neutral as some of the decisions have been completely baffling, and very much favouring one side / ignoring the same offence for the other

Now onto our games, there is no way i would say we are squeaky clean, and often penalties are justified, but how can teams who concede almost double figures on a weekly basis only then concede 1or 2 when they play us, and we were dominant in those games. You would normally assume that a dominant side would get more penalties as the other side tires in defence etc and starts to make mistakes

Just seeing Josie's post too as i am typing this

so we've conceded the least, but got 3rd most players with points, and 2nd most sin bins, so it looks like we are very dirty, but not very often according to those stats

[moto748]

Well, Harry Smith had the worst disciplinary record in SL last year. And you might not think he's a 'dirty' player, but them's the facts.

[fozzie58]

I don’t and never have gone in for conspiracy theories but maybe there is something in the way that Wigan are reffed now it’s time if the club feel that way to stop putting up with and call them out.

As for harry “don’t feed him red meat”smith being SL dirtiest player Christ on a bike words fail me