Sutton handed the whistle for fifth straight decider

Yes the Storm try to slow the ruck. So do every single team. Sometimes referees penalise, sometimes they don't. Last Sunday Sutton's approach was not to penalise and it favoured Penrith because the Storm are the more expansive attacking team. The week before Sutton gave set restarts and penalties very quickly and it favoured Manly over the Roosters who aren't as explosive. One would expect in a grand final, like an origin match, Sutton won't give away very few penalties and restarts and it will suit the Panthers gang tackling style where it takes 20 seconds for four players to untwist themselves from a tackle.

I agree that Sutton's appointment suits the Panthers. I disagree that his appointment is some sort of pro Penrith agenda.

I didn’t say you did – I’m asking you a question, it’s called having a conversation. You did however say “His refusal to manage the ruck is exactly what the panthers want.” So I’ll ask you again, the Storm don’t try to slow the ruck? You also said, “He is useless at managing the ruck…The nrl clearly want a panthers win and Sutton is clearly the ref for the job.” I gave you some stats on Sutton’s record when reffing both Storm and Panthers games, which goes against your argument that “His reffing style clearly benefits the panthers.” I can read, but maybe you should learn how to craft a more convincing argument.

Wow. The tinfoil hat brigade are out in force today. Is it full moon or something?

Adam I know many lawyers, priests and PHD students that have the best technical knowledge, but sadly they are not the most practical.

I told you, he hasn't ticked off the chooks yet. That's how you get the axe, or not.

Ashley K. looks to have been bunker punted for that conversion not being lined up properly, the non removal of Welch promptly for his HIA, B.Smith allowed HIA entitlements for a shoulder injury and leaving Munster on the field for knocking out Romey. Or was he ? Sure Grant A. is from the area, but you'd think being the son of ex chocolate soldier John, Ash would have caused more of a stir among Penrith's finals opposing sides than someone who merely used to live out there. Pro active this time Annesley, hit the nail onto that ugly head.

Congrats to Gerard Sutton, who has been named to referee his seventh grand final. I'm looking forward to a fair contest and a great game. That said, Grant Atkins is the Review Official and calling the shots from the bunker. I might even go to the game if it doesn't get moved late to Townsville due to an impending covid-19 lockdown.

I didn’t say that either. You need to learn to read. Try again.

So the Storm don't try to slow the ruck? It didn't affect the outcome of the game. Storm still had plenty of attacking opportunities and didn't capitalise. The ruck speed did not determine the outcome of the game, Storm's errors and completion did.

I didn’t say Sutton was a panthers fan. Read my post again. His reffing style clearly benefits the panthers. He is useless at managing the ruck. We saw that last Saturday. It was ugly. The nrl clearly want a panthers win and Sutton is clearly the ref for the job.

The ruck was unmanaged for both sides, Storm were slowing it down too and they invented the tactic. Since when was Gerard Sutton a Panthers fan? A quick look on Rugby League Project will show you that under Sutton, Storm have won 40 out of 57 games for a win rate of 70%, while Panthers 22 from 38 games for a win rate of 57%. Storm lost the prelim because Welch and Smith went down early throwing their bench rotation out. Some returning players haven't had recent game time and were gassed, Penrith were fitter and able to handle the conditions better. Storm 69% completion and had so many errors that if you wanted a conspiracy you could talk about them throwing the game, or maybe Jennings and Reimis are just poor under pressure?

:laughing:

Generally they have two default positions, Pride of the league and Invincible and NRL conspiracy, robbed by the Refs and it was the fault of ..... Nothing in-between :thumbup:

Really interested in how this game will be Reffed. Winning the ruck ( or cheating in the ruck if you take my viewpoint ) is a key to winning big games. When you have two teams who both try to ' manipulate' the ruck like last weeks prelim ,its easy for the Ref to just let it all go. They are both as bad as each other so be stays out of it. When you have one team trying to game the ruck and the other not doing it , the difference can become so obvious penalties/ sixers should flow and often do. Last year the Storm got a mile ahead in the GF and decided there was no way Penrith were winning the ruck in the second half to make a comeback. Sutton quite rightly started blowing the whistle. Some called it the get square ,but it was just Sutton quite rightly responding to blatant bs in the ruck. Souths are fairly clean in the ruck. Penrith vary from mildly messy to aweful. My gut feeling is Sutton will go to the tried and true, ' crack down early , then put the whistle away.' It will be fascinating to see if and when Sutton jumps in .

I know you really dislike Atkins, but he actually has the best technical knowledge of all the refs...

I have no doubt it will be positioned as a victory against all odds. One for the ages to stick in the book of fools

Good suggestion Tom. I wonder what the comments will be if Souths win

we can tick off the refs in Bunnies Bingo

Would it be presumptuous of me to request that they don't bother to turn up and I will volunteer Manly to take their spot? Apparently some Souths fans don't think that they will be getting a fair shake and the result will be a Panthers win by default. Personally I would hate for them to be so disappointed, so happy for our blokes to take one for their team. Usually the ref bashing starts when the game is finished not the week before kick off.