Denan Kemp, the former Broncos NRL player and SEN commentator was equally scathing of the Eels as the officiating in the Eels’ Round 1 loss to the Melbourne Storm in his podcast.
“The jersey deserved better than that second half," he admitted.
“(But) The refereeing, especially in the first half, was unacceptable. Unacceptably bad refereeing.”
Kemp pointed to a period early in the match where the set restarts were heavily skewed.
“There was one period where the set restarts were 4–0 in favour of the Storm, and yet their average play-the-ball speed was faster than the Eels.”
“I just don’t get it. To have a faster average play-the-ball speed and also four consecutive six-again penalties.”
“How does that work?”
On the Captain’s Challenge adjudicated by the bunker, Kemp was even more direct.
“I couldn't believe what I was watching. That is disgraceful video refereeing.”
“You can see his arms literally going to pass the ball backwards.”
“What do you mean it hit the attacker’s arm off the defender’s arm?”
He also criticised the momentum shift created by repeated restarts.
“I don’t like that one of their first tries was because they went six-again, six-again, try.”
Kemp then referenced the controversial incident involving Iongi.
“My player has to go off for an HIA after a head-high and crusher and it’s not even a penalty.”
“It was really, really bad refereeing.”
Even some Storm fans at the ground were reportedly astonished at several decisions.
So let’s take a closer look.
High-Level Momentum and Fatigue Management
| 00:30 | PEN for Storm– Dangerous Tk | Hopgood Sin Bin |
| 01:27 | 6A for Storm | |
| 01:42 | Error Storm | |
| 01:53 | PEN for Eels – Slow Peel | |
| 03:17 | Error Storm | |
| 04:32 | 🏉 Try Eels – Russell | 0–4 |
| 06:53 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 09:37 | 6A for Storm | |
| 09:47 | 6A for Storm | |
| 10:27 | 🏉 Try Storm – Warbrick | 6–4 |
| 13:31 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 14:45 | 🏉 Try Storm – Grant | 12–4 |
| 16:49 | 6A for Storm | |
| 17:23 | Error Storm | |
| 18:57 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 19:53 | Error Storm | |
| 22:36 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 22:36 | CAPTAIN'S CHALLENGE FAILED | |
| 24:16 | PEN for Eels – 2nd Effort | |
| 25:00 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 25:17 | PEN for Storm | |
| 26:19 | 🏉 Try Storm – Howarth | 18–4 |
| 29:21 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 31:07 |
IONGI HIGH-CRUSHER HIA (no penalty) |
|
| 31:23 | 6A for Eels | |
| 35:01 | 6A for Eels | |
| 35:27 | PEN for Eels – Late Tackle | |
| 36:14 | 6A for Eels | |
| 36:33 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 37:27 | Error Storm | |
| 38:16 | ❌ Error Eels | |
|
Half-Time |
18–4 | |
| 40:58 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 41:20 | 6A for Storm | |
| 42:36 | 6A for Eels | |
| 43:04 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 45:14 | 6A for Storm | |
| 46:09 | 🏉 Try Storm – Chan | 24–4 |
| 48:39 | Error Storm | |
| 50:09 | 6A for Storm | |
| 50:26 | 6A for Storm | |
| 50:50 | 🏉 Try Storm – Grant | 30–4 |
| 53:24 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 53:26 | PEN for Storm – Offside | |
| 54:45 | Error Storm | |
| 55:00 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 55:43 | 🏉 Try Storm – Leo | 36–4 |
| 58:55 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 62:26 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 63:07 | 🏉 Try Storm – Faalogo | 42–4 |
| 65:08 | PEN for Storm– Professional Foul | Simmo Sin Bin |
| 66:37 | 🏉 Try Storm – Lisati | 46–4 |
| 69:08 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 70:03 | ❌ Error Eels | |
| 71:11 | 6A for Storm | |
| 71:51 | Error Storm | |
| 71:58 | PEN for Eels – 2nd Effort | |
| 74:47 | 6A for Eels | |
| 76:53 | 🏉 Try Storm – Faalogo | 52–4 |
| 79:07 | PEN for Eels | |
| 80:00 | ❌ Error Eels |
17-8 errors and 63% completions sealed the Eels' fate. So did 404 vs 278 tackles. And we'll take a closer look at the errors later.
But, let's look at the time zones where restarts were awarded.
Graph: Time Zones for Set Restarts; Fatigue makes cowards of us all.
The Eels were only given set restarts in two small chunks.
Late in the first half, either side of the break — after the Storm had 18-4 on the board. And then late in the second half in the final minutes — after the Storm had racked up 46-4.
That's high-level fatigue and momentum management in effect.
And it is irrespective of intent, or if it is unrelated pay-back against the Eels' confronting and subpoenas of HQ in the Lomax-Storm saga the Eels won.
17 vs 3 sets
In between the 46th and 72nd minute the real damage was done.
The Storm had 17/19 sets compared with the Eels 3/6.
During that time the score went from 18-4 to 46-4 in the 66th minute.
During that time, the Eels made 150 vs 40 tackles, held the ball 3.5 vs 11 minutes.
How the Eels only managed to only concede one try in the last 14 minutes with 12 men for ten minutes of those with all that preceded is a miracle.
In the second half the Storm has 24 tackles vs 1 tackle in the opposition red zone.
Let's now have a look at something that killed us, and contributed to all that above.
17 vs 8 Errors
01:42 — Storm error (knock-on in possession)
03:17 — Storm error (handling error / knock-on)
06:53 — Eels error (knock-on bringing ball out of yardage)
13:31 — Eels error (forward pass in attack)
17:23 — Storm error (dropped ball in contact)
18:57 — Eels error (knock-on in play-the-ball area)
19:53 — Storm error (knock-on in possession)
First 20 mins Eels made less errors 3 vs 4
22:36 — Eels error (handling error)
25:00 — Eels error (knock-on in contact)
29:21 — Eels error (dropped ball early in set)
36:33 — Eels error (forward pass)
37:27 — Storm error (knock-on)
38:16 — Eels error (knock-on under pressure)
Next 20 mins Eels made 5 vs 1 errors (ballooned); Storm made an error when the ref started to award us our first restarts late in the first half
40:58 — Eels error (knock-on receiving pass)
43:04 — Eels error (handling error coming out of defence)
48:39 — Storm error (knock-on in tackle)
53:24 — Eels error (knock-on in contact)
54:45 — Storm error (handling error)
15 minutes after half-time Eels made 3 vs 2 errors (close)
55:00 — Eels error (dropped ball early in set)
58:55 — Eels error (knock-on attempting offload)
62:26 — Eels error (knock-on in contact)
69:08 — Eels error (handling error)
70:03 — Eels error (forward pass under pressure)
71:51 — Storm error (knock-on)
80:00 — Eels error (last-play handling error)
Next 25 minutes Eels made 6 vs 1 error (ballooned); Storm made an error when the ref started to award us our first restarts late in the second half
So what's the point here? For, 50 minutes of the game Errors were 8-8. Storm started making errors once the ref gave us restarts and penalties at the back of the first and second half.
When did the Eels' error count balloon out? For 30 minutes total, between the 22nd-36th (4 errors), then 55th-71st (5 errors).
For 65minutes we got 0 restarts, 2 penalties to the Storm's 8 restarts, 3 penalites. We also got 2 sins bins against us, losing our fullback to a head-high crusher HIA (for no penalty), losing a captain's challenge that was plainly wrong.
Silver Linings
"The silver lining here is Ryles can use that (game) for the rest of the season of like, boys, this is how far away we are from the top tier."
Sure, but 2026 could also be the Year of the Ref.
Summary of Questionable Refereering:
- Hopgood’s head clash resulted in a penalty and a sin bin and a two-week suspension, which seems excessive when compared to Crichton’s direct-head contact with Tu’s head which only resulted in a penalty.
- The HIA incident involving Iongi, which appeared high and a crusher, didn’t even result in a penalty.
- The Captain’s Challenge decision seemed dubious as Kemp noted, Ryley Smith's hands were clearly moving backwards at all times.
- From the 45th to the 72nd minute, the Storm completed 17/19 sets, compared with the Eels’ 3/6.
- During that same stretch, the score blew out from 18–4 at half-time to 46–4 by the 66th minute.
- The set restarts were 9-5 to the Storm.
- Kemp also makes the point that the Storm’s play-the-ball speed was faster than the Eels’, which makes the lopsided six-again restarts 4-0 at the beginning seem odd.
-
The only time the Eels received any set restarts was either side of half-time (31st–42nd minute) and very late in the game (from the 74th minute) , after the Storm had already those established decisive leads mentioned above.
Replies
The first half was home team refereeing at its best
The sport it's self is becoming so hard to watch. Six agains every minute for no reason, Todd Smith was waving his hand like he was at some 90's rave. I'm still shocked at how poorly the refree was. Yeah we could have came back in the second half if paulo just ran like a prop.
Been saying it for years, the six again was brought in to manipulate games, a six again can't be judged by fans watching it cause it gets given and game continues, but if there was a penalty you'd be able to watch a replay. It's all corrupt.
It adds it more up to interpretation of the referee as opposed to actual penalties that they would be a bit more hesitant to blow. If ref is 50/50 he would probably go 6 again. If there was no 6 again he is a bit more cautious to avoid the howler.
But yeah it can manipulate and the fact 4 teams put on 40 this week and even having a 29-28 scoreline is not always great.
Yep
Obviously the ref either;
A) failured and cant do his job, or
B) was asked to apply the blow torch (hahah no chance, go back to A).
BUT, I watched the manly/canberra game and the ref was killing the raiders as well (at the start). The difference was the raiders were able stay strong and get past the refs early favourtism. Sure you could argue manly suck and are not the storm but I dont think it is as simple as that. Some teams can beat the opposition and a suspicious ref. We just arent that sort of team. I am not sure we ever have been.
Raiders and Eagles had equal ball, and Ref gave Raiders plenty of six-agains (five straight) after 8th min, helped them claw back into the game. Only two restarts in the second-half (one a piece).
01:42 – Sea Eagles
02:24 – Sea Eagles
07:51 – Sea Eagles
08:12 – Sea Eagles
19:34 – Raiders
24:01 – Raiders
25:46 – Raiders
31:57 – Raiders
48:08 – Raiders
72:44 – Sea Eagles
Check play by play at https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2026/round-1/sea-eagles-v-...
Yeah perhaps i am in a denial stage. I refuse to believe the ref was corrupt. I prefer to believe he is just hopeless at his job.
Well the Hopgood and Iongi calls were actually the bunker, not Tood Smith. I can see the bunker being corrupt. Are they actually? Unlikely but never know.
I do believe it is possible for refs in some way to manipulate a game and at some point in the 118 years of the game they have purposely decided a game. Common? No, but they can do it.
At the same time we were that bad they didn't need to do much anyway.
Chris Butler, the wanker ref, was at the bunker. He had redefined the meaning of backward and forward.
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