The Sydney Roosters may be the equal most penalised team in NRL history, but they refuse to worry about it as they prepare to face Manly in Saturday’s qualifying final.
In Friday night’s minor premiership decider against South Sydney the Roosters conceded 11 penalties – seven more than the Rabbitohs – to tick their season total over to 204.
With an average of 8.5 penalties every game, the Roosters are one of only two clubs since 1998 to cop the fury of the referee more than 200 times in one season, after the Warriors also tallied 204 back in 2003.
Manly also hit the 200 mark in 2004.
The minor premiers have won the penalty count only five times this season, and just 25 times in their past 100 fixtures.
Roosters centre Michael Jennings acknowledged infringements were a significant problem for the tricolours, but he wasn’t convinced it was impacting heavily on their game.
“Obviously we know we’re giving penalties away but obviously were defending it,” Jennings told reporters on Tuesday.
“We know that what we do after the penalty is going to be reflected … in the points.
“Really it’s just discipline that at the end of the day you’ve just got to fix.
“We are addressing it, it’s not a big deal,” he said.
Statistics suggest he is right, as the team fly into the finals on the back of their best defensive season in more than three decades.
This year they conceded 325 points at an average of just 13.5 per game, the club’s best since 1982 when they let 12.2 points slip each match.
Still, discipline could be a prominent and crucial factor on Saturday, given Manly finished the season with 185 penalties, making them the second-most penalised team of the season.
Jennings’ centre partner Mitchell Aubusson said defence has been a primary focus for the Roosters all year.
“And it’s held us in good stead to be where we’re sitting today on the top of the ladder,” said Aubusson, who will return to the field after nursing a head knock incurred against the Gold Coast two weeks ago.
“So I think we definitely have to hone in on our defence.”
“(Manly) are a class team. They’re a proven team in the finals … so we’re going to have to be on our game all over the park.”