Storm run over the top of Sea Eagles to make it 17 straight

A lot of the Storms players out are by choice, not injuries. The players that mattered most for them were all there. Harry Grant, Brandon Smith, Justin Olam, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes. Over exaggerating the situation there! If the coach chooses to rotate the playing squad. You can’t say that those players out ,were unavailable.

Really? You’ve obviously never heard of Darcey Lawler, Greg Hartley or Barry Gomersall?

Done.. not one more second to waste

“I also don’t know who “Youse” are….. I don’t support Storm.“ It’s a comment about who is who. It wasn’t a question to say I don’t know what it means or to have crack at the word or person in the comment. I read it as slang and replied as if he meant me being a Storm fan, which i believe clarified in the same statement. Otherwise the second part makes no sense at all if I was being disrespectful. So not sure how that is me being superior.

Evidence based findings of post- game statistical data is not a prediction, it’s a review based on occurrence. So i would think it would be analysis not a hypothetical….. I would assume, with my limited knowledge of the English language. The only evidence you have provided for your argument (other than correcting English) is saying “practically” all Storm penalties against were in the last few minutes. Which is not actually practical or even evidenced - based on the data provided by the Governing body of the sport. I tried to take your side into discussion (allowance for incorrect calls) but I can’t find the data bias evidence to support it. Possession is determined by turning over the ball, repeat sets by penalties (not six agains, they don’t take them into account as an extra set), tries / penalty conversions and forcing line drop outs. This much is true in a possession game like rugby league. It says statistically Storm lead most of those, if not all of those stats in this regard….. it should have action biased the data greater if your argument is true. But it didn’t or doesn’t (which ever one is correct). You’re half right, I should find someone else…….. but clearly it should be someone who understands the game is a possession game and if you don’t hold the ball to within 5% of your oppositions possession rate then historical RL data suggest you don’t win many games. Good luck to Manly and you, I honestly think they’re a great chance this year. Just would have been better to talk about how they won on the back of good possession not lost because of a ref.

Hate to be pedantic but I think you mean “you’re justified ”. Nice hypothetical by the way, but like most hypotheticals it means little. You see you can’t accurately predict the outcome of the scenario you have suggested. Yet again the whole ‘point’ you’re trying to make is predicated on having knowledge of result and quite simply you don’t . Maybe save it for someone who cares what you think.

That’s a typo champ.. a function of keys being too close for my big thumb…but well spotted. Now your use of the word ‘of’ instead of have and then having the gall to criticise someone for using the slang term ‘youse’ is a function of what precisely? Misplaced superiority??

“Loads if words there just no reality.”

Let say for the sake of argument your justified in your penalty assumption that it was Storm bias. So assume say 4-5 penalties shouldn’t have been and you add that Manly made more errors 13 to 7. That’s 6 extra sets through errors and say another 5 penalties that they shouldn’t have gone to Melbourne then that should be 11 extra sets to Storm. They only had 5 extra sets with the ball (39 to 44).

Media is so Sydney centric ... no mention of the fact that Storm had 4 players out of the starting 17. this includes Rep and Origin players while Manly were full strength Same thing last week - carrying on about Penrith undermanned, forgetting Storm has yet to field a full strength team this season !!

Not entirely certain that you’re winning me over with your ‘argument’ but I am convinced that you think you are.

Not pointing out my spelling mistake? Oh please you “should of”

My argument was that Manly didn’t hang onto the ball well enough. Hence the imbalance in possession rate, penalty rate is a reflection of possession rate almost perfectly. For both teams that is. Storm were no clean sheets as you’re suggesting. I would have loved manly hang onto the ball better. It was a great game but would have been better if they completed better than 67%. To me they clearly looked the more dangerous side. They broke down the Storm really well. It was pretty impressive and think they have helped every other team in the top 6 devise a better plan to beat the Storm. I’m just not hanging my hang on Manly losing due to penalties when they didn’t hold ball. I reckon Des is doing more ball handling this week then penalty minimisation training.

My correction wasn’t the word used, it was the assumption I was a Storm supporter. I wish my Dragons were as successful as the Storm have been. I can only wish for better times. I agree I’m no wordsmith which is why I didn’t pick at your spelling mistake in a previous comment. Hence the glasshouses comment.

You would have to guess mate.. that seems to be all you have to serve your puerile arguments

I have seldom encountered anyone who uses so many words to say so little. Your use of stats is laughable, it is predicated on the assumption that the referees got everything correct and that only one side was infringing all night. A corollary to your comment "you can’t give away penalties in defence if you have the ball most of the time" is that if you're being penalised all night you won't have possession.. or is that too complex for you? This is not an honest argument at all it is all based upon an evidently biased opinion. Before you tell us once again that you had no team in the contest, although saying it repeatedly suggests otherwise, I will just have to assume you're just an argumentative contrarian

Glasshouses I guess then TG.

Firstly, 2 set restarts and 2 penalties (4/9) in the last 5mins (when manly had majority of ball). So not at all practically. From 30 minute to 60th Storm gave up the 5 others in that period. To that point it’s recognised that Storm had a huge possession rate due to Manly errors…… 58% time in possession for Storm. So the honest argument is you can’t give away penalties in defence if you have the ball most of the time. If you did a quick equation of total infringements in game / against time in possession, you will see that manly should have conceded 13.34 and Storm 9.66. Which if you take the questionable contact call on B smith it’s probably bang on. Secondly you might need to learn the rules on obstruction, see attached below. Obstruction The indicators for an obstruction include: 1 . (a) ‘Block’* or ‘Flat’ runner[s] (who do not receive the ball) must not stop in the middle of the defensive line (b) ‘Block’ or ‘Flat’ runner[s] (who do not receive the ball) must not run at (chest or outside shoulder of) defender[s] and initiate contact Olakau’atu runs at outside shoulder of KB, makes contact which also means he stops in the line. Which as per rule 1 a & b is not permitted.

Practically all if Manly’s penalties came in the last few minutes of the game, ditto six agains. For your “honest assessment” you ignore that. Likewise the complete bs ruling on obstruction when the game was in the balance.

Interesting read. I like that they called out their own competition publicly. When dealing with NRL and the refereeing, I’ve had a far less success (them admitting fault) even when you can prove your point. They are happy to give you a percentage of calls they get right. They do however review their colleges games for feedback and coaching but I’ve found that they are pretty protective of their own. I assume that’s because we come from clubland though.