With the help of Fox Sports Stats, we’ve gone back to 2020 when the set restart rule was introduced, while calculating penalties received and conceded for this season, along with six-again restarts.

What isn’t included is at what point during any given match decisions were made, or where on the field, and how that impacted the run of play.

But it certainly paints an overall picture that will cause plenty of debate among fans in the countdown to the big end-of-season matches.

* Stats only include refs who have officiated those teams on five or more occasions, with exception of Dolphins that are based on 2023 season.

Referee Adam Gee has proven to be the Broncos kryptonite in recent years. Artwork by Boo Bailey.

BRONCOS

Best: Peter Gough 85.7% (7 games, 6 wins), Gerard Sutton 58.3 (12 games, 7 wins)

Worst: Adam Gee 21.4% (14 games, 3 wins), Grant Atkins 40% (15 games, 6 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 5.3 received (equal 11th), 5.6 conceded (equal 10th)

Average set restarts: 2.7 awarded (equal 3rd), 2 conceded (equal 5th)

Verdict: Adam Gee is to the Broncos what kryptonite is to Superman with 11 losses from 14 games. And wouldn’t you know it, guess who the Broncos have for Friday night’s blockbuster against the Eels at the Gabba? We should point out that the Eels also have their worst record in recent seasons under Gee (3 wins from 9). At the other end of the scale Broncos fans would be riding Peter Gough all the way to the grand final if they make it that far, with only 1 loss under Gough in 7 games since 2020.

Chris Sutton is the Raiders referee of choice.

RAIDERS

Best: Chris Sutton 91.7% (12 games, 11 wins), Peter Gough 66.7% (6 games, 4 wins)

Worst: Gerard Sutton 40% (15 games, 6 wins), Grant Atkins 50% (16 games, 8 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 5.3 received (equal 11th), 5.9 conceded (equal 13th)

Average set restarts: 2.5 awarded (5th), 2.5 conceded (equal 11th)

Verdict: You wouldn’t blame Ricky Stuart for letting Chris Sutton blow the Viking Horn next time he arrives in the nation’s capital, but it might be a different reception for brother Gerard. The Raiders have only lost 1 of 12 games under Chris in 3 seasons, but lost 9 of 15 under Gerard. While Grant Atkins and Adam Gee rank equal next worst at 50%.

Ben Cummins and the Bulldogs.

BULLDOGS

Best: Ben Cummins 33.3% (12 games, 4 wins), Ashley Klein 33.3% (6 games, 2 wins)

Worst: Adam Gee 0% (6 games, 0 wins), Chris Sutton 11.1% (9 games, 1 win)

Average penalties 2023: 5.6 received (equal 7th), 6.7 conceded (17th)

Average set restarts: 2 awarded (equal 13th), 1.9 conceded (4th)

Verdict: The struggling Dogs don’t have a great record regardless of who is in charge. But the stats suggest their best hope is when either Ben Cummins or Ashley Klein are in charge. They have their worst record under Gee, winless in all 6 games since 2020, while losing 8 of 9 under Chris Sutton. The Dogs also rank last this season on penalties conceded.

The Sharks do well under referee Chris Sutton. Picture: Getty Images

SHARKS

Best: Chris Sutton 84.6% (13 games, 11 wins), Todd Smith 71.4% (7 games, 5 wins)

Worst: Grant Atkins 30% (10 games, 3 wins), Ben Cummins 30% (10 games, 3 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 6.2 received (4th), 5.3 conceded (equal 3rd)

Average set restarts: 2.3 awarded (equal 8th), 2 conceded (equal 5th)

Verdict: It’s astonishing comparing the stats certain teams have under certain referees. Just look at the Sharks’ 84.6 percentage under Chris Sutton as opposed to the 30 per cent under Atkins and Cummins. That’s not suggesting any favouritism, it’s just stating a fact. The Sharks also have a pretty ordinary record under Ashley Klein (38.5), who they have for Friday night’s game against the Titans.

The Dolphins are yet to win with Peter Gough as referee.

DOLPHINS

Best: Chris Butler 100% (3 games, 3 wins), Adam Gee 66.7% (3 games, 2 wins)

Worst: Peter Gough 0% (4 games, 0 wins), Gerard Sutton 0% (2 games, 0 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 5.4 received (10th), 5.6 conceded (equal 10th)

Average set restarts: 1.8 awarded (16th), 1.6 conceded (equal 1st)

Verdict: Perhaps a classic case of stats only telling part of the story. While the Dolphins have the perfect strike rate under Butler, those 3 wins were in the opening 8 rounds (against the Roosters, Knights and Titans) when the Dolphins started hot. In comparison, 3 of the 4 losses under Gough have been since round 17 against the Eels, Broncos and Bulldogs. The other was in round 9 against the Raiders.

The Titans struggle with Chris Butler in charge.

TITANS

Best: Peter Gough 50% (8 games, 4 wins), Todd Smith 50% (6 games, 3 wins)

Worst: Adam Gee 20% (10 games, 2 wins), Chris Butler 23.1% (13 games, 3 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 6.6 received (2nd), 5.5 conceded (equal 7th)

Average set restarts: 1.6 awarded (17th), 2.9 conceded (14th)

Verdict: When your luck’s out, your luck’s out. And while the Titans don’t have a better than 50 per cent record under any ref, what I find just as interesting is they rank second in penalties awarded this season. I mention this because they sure could have done with one extra call during the recent loss to the Eels (under Butler) when Tanah Boyd had a late field goal attempt charged down. Of course, that came the week after the Dolphins were awarded a late penalty in almost identical circumstances against the Titans.

A Chris Sutton call cost the Sea Eagles dearly.

SEA EAGLES

Best: Chris Butler 60% (5 games, 3 wins), Peter Gough 60% (5 games, 3 wins)

Worst: Chris Sutton 20% (5 games, 1 wins), Ashley Klein 36.4% (11 games, 4 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 8 received (1st), 5.1 conceded (2nd)

Average set restarts: 2.3 awarded (equal 8th), 3.2 conceded (17th)

Verdict: Talk about a controversial early season loss coming back to bite a team in the countdown to the finals. While the Sea Eagles go best under Butler and Gough, they seriously struggle when Chris Sutton’s holding the whistle. And one Sutton loss that stands out was when the Sea Eagles were robbed of a try for a so-called forward pass back in the round four 13-12 golden point loss to the Rabbitohs that the NRL later conceded was wrong. Those two lost competition points would have them in the top eight now. Ouch.

Adam Gee talks to Storm star Harry Grant.

STORM

Best: Ben Cummins 83.3% (6 games, 5 wins), Peter Gough 83.3% (6 games, 5 wins)

Worst: Adam Gee 53.8% (13 games, 7 wins), Ashley Klein 64.7% (17 games, 11 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 5.7 received (equal 5th), 6.4 conceded (15th)

Average set restarts: 3 awarded (1st), 3.1 conceded (16th)

Verdict: Here’s one for the conspiracy theorists because we would never accuse any ref of holding a grudge. But the stats show that since Brandon Smith got in strife for calling Gee a “cheating bastard” last July in a loss to the Sharks, the Storm have also lost their next 5 under the same man. While those defeats didn’t exactly come against the easiest opposition, it’s still an interesting stat when you’re talking about a team as successful as the Storm, who are 83.3 per cent under Cummins.

The Newcastle Knights go well under Grant Atkins.

KNIGHTS

Best: Grant Atkins 70% (10 games, 7 wins), Peter Gough 58.3% (12 games, 7 wins)

Worst: Chris Sutton 28.6% (7 games, 2 wins), Chris Butler 28.6% (7 games, 2 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 5.7 received (equal 5th), 5.3 conceded (equal 3rd)

Average set restarts: 2.1 awarded (12th), 2.3 conceded (10th)

Verdict: As the Knights make a late charge to the finals, they’d be hoping they get their share of games under Atkins given their 70 per cent strike rate with him. Not that we’re suggesting there was any bias when Atkins was in charge in Perth last weekend and a really tough call went the Knights’ way, after Herman Ese’ese was pinged for holding a player back in a scrum that denied the Dolphins at the death. While it was technically the correct call, NRL head of football Graham Annesley later conceded it was “a very harsh penalty”.

The Cowboys seem to have a problem with Ben Cummins.

COWBOYS

Best: Chris Butler 75% (8 games, 6 wins), Grant Atkins 66.7% (6 games, 4 wins)

Worst: Ben Cummins 10% (10 games, 1 win), Chris Sutton 18.2% (11 games, 2 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 5.5 received (9th), 5.8 conceded (12th)

Average set restarts: 2 awarded (equal 13th), 2.2 conceded (9th)

Verdict: While the Cowboys have clearly their best record under Butler, they have also won 66.6 per cent of their games during this period under both Atkins and Peter Gough. While their worst record is by far under Ben Cummins at 10 per cent, and 18.2 under Chris Sutton. Ashley Klein and Gerard Sutton are next but at a significantly better percentage of 44.4 (5 losses from 9 games under both).

The Eels don’t get many penalties, but don’t concede many either. Picture: Getty Images

EELS

Best: Peter Gough 80% (5 games, 4 wins), Ben Cummins 77.8% (9 games, 7 wins)

Worst: Adam Gee 33.3% (9 games, 3 wins), Grant Atkins 46.7% (15 games, 7 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 4.4 received (17th), 5 conceded (1st)

Average set restarts: 2.3 awarded (equal 8th), 1.8 conceded (3rd)

Verdict: It’s a lineball call if the Eels have got the rub of the green by getting Gee for this round’s potentially season-defining showdown with the Broncos. While the Broncos have their worst record when Gee is officiating, so do the Eels. On the flip side, the Eels have their best winning percentage under Gough and Cummins. Interestingly, the Eels rank worst in penalties awarded this year, but best in penalties conceded.

Todd Smith is Penrith's toughest matchup.

PANTHERS

Best: Chris Butler 100% (6 games, 6 wins), Adam Gee 93.3% (15 games, 14 wins)

Worst: Todd Smith 66.7% (6 games, 4 wins), Gerard Sutton 69.6% (23 games, 16 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 6.4 received (3rd), 5.5 conceded (equal 7th)

Average set restarts: 2.7 awarded (equal 3rd), 2.7 conceded (13th)

Verdict: If there is one man more important to the Panthers than Nathan Cleary it’s referee Butler, who some rival fans have jokingly nicknamed “Mr 100%”. Not that the Panthers have a bad record with any of the whistleblowers. In fact, Smith (who they have their worst record under) was at the centre of the post Magic Round blow up this year after sensational cheating allegations from a Warriors’ sponsor were later withdrawn.

The Rabbitohs are only a 50/50 proposition under Ashley Klein.

RABBITOHS

Best: Ben Cummins 91.7% (12 games, 11 wins), Adam Gee 80% (5 games, 4 wins)

Worst: Grant Atkins 38.9% (18 games, 7 wins), Ashley Klein 50% (18 games, 9 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 5.1 received (15th), 5.4 conceded (6th)

Average set restarts: 2 awarded (equal 13th), 2.1 conceded (8th)

Verdict: This time of the season you take all the luck you can get. And with the Rabbitohs walking the finals tightrope, maybe they got a pre-match boost with their No 1 ref Cummins appointed for Saturday’s showdown with the Dragons. Under Cummins the Rabbitohs only have 1 loss in their last 12 games. As opposed to 11 losses in 18 games under Atkins. Souths have their next worst record under Klein who is currently ranked the game’s No 1.

The Dragons do well when Ben Cummins is in charge.

DRAGONS

Best: Ben Cummins 70% (10 games, 7 wins), Peter Gough 42.9% (14 games, 6 wins)

Worst: Adam Gee 20% (10 games, 2 wins), Grant Atkins 27.3% (11 games, 3 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 5.3 received (equal 11th), 5.9 conceded (equal 13th)

Average set restarts: 2.4 awarded (equal 6th), 2 conceded (equal 5th)

Verdict: Like the Rabbitohs, the Dragons also have their best record under Cummins, and by a long way. In the last three years they have won 70 per cent of matches under Cummins, compared to their next best which is 42.9 per cent under Gough. Then it goes 40 per cent under Gerard Sutton, 33.3 under Chris Sutton, 27.3 under Atkins and down to 20 per cent under Gee. Upon further reflection, maybe the refs have little to do with the Dragons’ results in recent years.

Grant Atkins slows down Tyson Smoothy of the Broncos.

ROOSTERS

Best: Grant Atkins 76.5% (17 games, 13 wins), Ben Cummins 66.7% (9 games, 6 wins)

Worst: Gerard Sutton 31.3% (16 games, 5 wins), Ashley Klein 52.6% (19 games, 10 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 5 received (16th), 6.5 conceded (16th)

Average set restarts: 2.3 awarded (equal 8th), 2.5 conceded (equal 11th)

Verdict: No wonder Roosters fans get their noses out of joint when it comes to Gerard Sutton who they have lost 11 of their last 16 games under. One call that sticks out like a sore thumb was the game-changing penalty last July when Sam Verrills made a textbook tackle but somehow Panther Scott Sorensen still nosedived into the turf. That was the one that Trent Robinson labelled a “horrible decision” after Viliame Kikau scored the next set. On the flip side their ‘best ref’ Atkins even put his body on the line and made a try saving tackle for the Chooks this year to stop Broncos Tyson Smoothy from scoring.

Referee Grant Atkins is tough on the Warriors. Picture: Getty Images

WARRIORS

Best: Adam Gee 57.1% (7 games, 4 wins), Chris Sutton 53.8% (13 games, 7 wins)

Worst: Chris Butler 33.3% (12 games, 4 wins), Grant Atkins 33.3% (6 games, 2 wins)

Average penalties 2023: 5.6 received (equal 7th), 5.5 conceded (equal 7th)

Average set restarts: 2.4 awarded (equal 6th), 2.9 conceded (equal 14th)

Verdict: It caused a hell of a stir a few months back when a Warriors sponsor labelled the refs cheats before retracting his statement. While that was totally out of line, just looking at their record under all refs in recent years certainly makes for pretty grim reading for Warriors fans. The best winning percentage under Gee isn’t exactly what you’d call flash, while you just have to go back to this year’s controversial Anzac Day loss to the Storm to remember why Warriors fans aren’t among the Atkins fan club.

TIGERS

Best: Adam Gee 45.5% (11 games, 5 wins), Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski 40% (5 games, 2 wins)

Worst: Ben Cummins 7.7% (13 games, 1 win), Peter Gough 12.5% (8 games, 1 win)

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Average penalties 2023: 5.2 received (14th), 5.3 conceded (equal 3rd)

Average set restarts: 2.9 awarded (2nd), 1.6 conceded (1st)

Verdict: One of the best disciplined sides this year when it comes to penalties and set restarts conceded, not that you’d know it by their record under all refs in recent years. Just go back to last round when they copped some shocking calls under their second worst ref Gough in the loss to the Raiders, including that forward pass howler from Jack Wighton that led to a Seb Kris try. Still, you can’t put it all down to bad calls from refs when your team is closing in on back-to-back wooden spoons.