My problem with Sutton is not so much when he penalises us, it is the penalties he doesn't give to us when our opponents transgress. I have similar issues with most other referees particularly Cummins and Maxwell. The Fifita play the ball on Sunday when he didn't face goal to goal is a perfect example. That has been a penalty all my life (over 60 years) not a scrum. Cost us 20-30 metress in territory. There was also a decision on the hill side of the ground where a Shark player made no effort to roll away from the ruck area, and Liccha knocked on while trying to pick up the ball. Obvious penalty, not given, he ruled scrum Sharks feed. Sutton is not putting our opponents under the same scrutiny as we are. Why all of a sudden in an era where low penalty counts are the norm and usually favour the home team do we have a more than 2-1 majority penalty count against the home team? Heaven help us when we play Newcastle and Brisbane at their fortresses what the count will be be, or if Sutton referees us against Souths in a few weeks. Agreed our discipline at times is poor but as was said earlier, the game on Sunday was relatively even except for one obvious area. We are Sutton's pet hate, and the club needs to be pro-active in getting to the bottom of the problem. The last 10 games he has reffed us, I think we might have won three.
I am dubious as to whether James Graham is right captain. Love his passion but would we be better off with a less passionate captainlike Tolman or one of the Morris' brothers? We never won a Grand Final refereed by Bill Harrigan and we will never win one refereed by the similarly arrogant Sutton. Hope I'm wrong but I doubt it.