Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has defended cheeky halfback Chris Sandow and laid the blame for his sin-binning on referee Ben Cummins.
Arthur admitted that Sandow's 10 minutes on the sideline cost his team dearly in their 46-20 NRL loss to Melbourne at AAMI Park, as the Storm ran in three tries while the Eels were down a man.
Sandow was sin-binned for dissent in the 60th minute when he asked Cummins: "How much are they paying you?" following a penalty against his team.
With the Eels down 24-16 but still in touch, Storm youngster Kurt Mann scored a double following Sandow's departure and prop Bryan Norrie also crossed to set up the match-winning lead.
Arthur said Sandow's offence was "trivial" and he didn't believe it deserved such a penalty.
"No I don't. There needs to be a two-way street with respect shown to the players and the referee," Arthur said.
"It was pretty trivial and we need to grow up a little bit and get on with refereeing the game."
He said he understood Sandow's frustration, despite the penalty count finishing at just 8-7 in favour of the Storm.
"He probably shouldn't have said anything but the players are out there busting their arse ... they just want an even share of the ball," Arthur said.
"We know we need to be better but the blokes in pink needed to be better today too."
Parramatta were up against it from kick-off, starved of ball in the opening half as the home side opened up an 18-0 lead.
Two tries just before the break helped them to 18-10 at halftime.
Superstar fullback Billy Slater put his Origin pain behind him with his 165th try, equalling Cronulla's Andrew Ettingshausen at third on the all-time try-scoring list.
Slater ended with two tries and set up two others.
His NSW Origin rival Jarryd Hayne was comparatively kept quiet.
As well as Mann's double, winger Sisa Waqa also picked up two among the eight-try haul.
Melbourne climbed into seventh place with the win, ahead of the Eels on points differential.
Storm skipper Cameron was delighted to see his team post their highest tally of the season.
"A lot of times this year teams have come over the top of us so it was nice to really put on Parramatta's throat and kick away at the end," Smith said.
Coach Craig Bellamy said his team was continuing to build, with the young backs such as Mann and Young Tonumaipea finding their feet.
"We're not looking at September at the moment and we just need to make sure we keep looking to improve but our young backs are going from strength to strength," Bellamy said.
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