When we think of sides that concede lots of penalties, most assume that they will be the struggling teams at the foot of the ladder. Most weeks those sides end up doing far more defending and they get tired.

Tired and frustrated players give away penalties. So it is no surprise to see both Parramatta and the Wests Tigers in the top four sides for penalties conceded in 2013.

But those sides are only the third and fourth worst offenders.This year the ladder leading Sydney Roosters are the side that concedes the most penalties by far.

After round 22 the Roosters had conceded 165 penalties - 17 more than the next on the list, the Manly Sea Eagles.

So far the majority of sides have only two or three players that have personally conceded over 10 penalties in 2013. However, the Roosters have seven regular offenders and Manly has eight.

The Roosters boast the least line breaks and tries conceded this season. Their defence is a major cornerstone of their success.

The Sea Eagle's defensive stats are almost as impressive, but the question must be asked: is it possible that their defensive successes are actually due in part - if not substantially - to their high penalty counts?

Penalties for and against v tries and line breaks conceded Team Pens against Pens for Pen differential Tries conceded Line breaks conceded 165 117 -2.4 41 50 148 130 -0.9 46 62 147 126 -1.05 101 108 147 126 -1.05 94 104 137 135 -0.1 67 65 134 145 0.55 76 76 127 115 -0.6 54 82 124 127 0.15 83 95 123 144 1.05 66 80 121 136 0.75 76 88 121 138 0.85 70 89 121 124 0.15 62 68 119 140 1.05 74 83 118 111 -0.35 82 88 114 119 0.25 55 74 110 143 1.65 65 77

Roosters coach Trent Robinson said recently he was concerned about his side's high penalty count and that he intended to discuss it with referees boss Daniel Anderson.

Given his sides results it is hard to understand why Trent would be concerned. Anderson would probably tell Trent that the stats point out:

1. His side frequently is seen to hold down the tackled player; 2. His team is seen often to interfere with the play the ball; and 3. His players are frequently seen to be offside.

In short, it could be argued that the Roosters play a brand of football that consistently tries to slow down their opponents' attack.

James Maloney has conceded the most penalties (21) of any player this season. ( Getty Images: Cameron Spencer )

James Maloney is the NRL's worst offender with 21 penalties conceded personally. In the round 20 game versus the Knights, the Roosters conceded 14 penalties and Maloney personally conceded four of them.

It was only after two late tries to the Roosters that they sealed that game. It may well have been a different result if the bin had been used.

Give the Knights those two competition points and they are in fifth spot.

The Roosters concede a massive average of 8.25 penalties a game - nearly two penalties a game more than the NRL average. In 11 of their 16 wins they have lost the penalty count.

In fact, Sydney has only won three penalty counts in 2013. Fourteen times in 2013 the Roosters conceded eight or more penalties in a match. They lose the penalty count on average by almost 2.5 penalties a game.

Average pens conceded per game 2013 6.5 Sydney Roosters 8.25 Cronulla Sharks 5.5

The stats show that Manly is not far behind the Roosters in all of these regards. You just need to look at the NRL ladder to see that there is no big downside for either team in conceding so many penalties.

Out of the top 20 most penalised players in 2013, eight of them - come from the Roosters and Manly.

In spite of these two teams appalling rate of penalties conceded, neither has had a player sin binned in 2013.

The other sides in the top four - Melbourne and the Rabbitohs - score almost as many points as The Roosters. But both give away far fewer penalties and concede a fair few more points. A coincidence?

The Storm in fact concede the second fewest penalties in the NRL after the Sharks. What reward - apart from a lower ladder position - do the Storm and the Sharks get for having such good discipline?

More importantly, what punishment do the Roosters and the Sea Eagles get for having such terrible discipline? It is fairly clear that penalties conceded alone are not a disincentive.

Daniel Anderson must instruct his refs to use the sin bin for repeat infringers. Any player who concedes three penalties in a match should go to the sideline for 10 minutes.

The refs should have even less tolerance for known regular offenders who should go to the bin after conceding two penalties.

Furthermore, game suspensions for players could be put in place when players pass milestones of personal penalties conceded throughout the season. This is the same system that punishes regularly carded players in the English Premier League quite effectively.

These measures would surely open up the game as a spectacle and ensure that the NRL was seen to be clearly of the view that crime shouldn't pay.

Top 20 most penalised players of 2013 Player Pens conceded Player Pens conceded James Maloney 21 Jake Friend 15 Shaun Fensom 19 Jamie Buhrer 15 Ryan James 18 Matt Ballin 15 Josh Reynolds 18 Issac Luke 15 Adam Blair 17 Steve Matai 14 Reni Maitua 17 Sika Manu 14 Mitchell Pearce 16 Shaun Kenny-Dowall 14 Michael Ennis 16 Daly Cherry-Evans 14 Dan Hunt 15 Simon Mannering 14 Ashley Harrison 15 Scott Prince 14

You can follow Tim Gore on Twitter @gorskiopork