ROOSTERS coach Brad Fittler accused referee Jared Maxwell of showing disrespect to skipper Craig Fitzgibbon in a bitter aftermath to yesterday's loss.

With the behaviour of players towards on-field officials in the spotlight after Brisbane centre Justin Hodges's two-match suspension for gesturing at Tony Archer, Fittler said Maxwell had inappropriately pointed at the veteran during one of several exchanges between the pair.

"He was pointing his finger at 'Fitzy', and I thought he showed him no respect," Fittler said. "If anyone deserves respect, [it's Fitzgibbon]."

Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta added: "You look at Hodges getting suspended for a couple of weeks for showing disrespect, I think we can go both ways there.

"Fitzy doesn't normally question a referee unless it's deserved or [if] he feels pretty passionately about the call, because he's a pretty passionate person. It gets frustrating when you're working your butt off out there and you're getting some bad calls."

The Roosters lost the penalty count 7-3 and took until the 57th minute to win their first. At one stage, it was 6-0 in Parramatta's favour, with three of those calls resulting in penalty goals. Fitzgibbon approached Maxwell after the third, and said: "We are not that bad."

Afterwards, Fitzgibbon said: "It's a fine line. You give as good as you get, but it's hard not to get frustrated - you can't get any momentum if you don't get any penalties.

"I don't know how many penalty counts we've won this year, but it doesn't feel like many. The same thing happened to Cronulla [on Saturday night]."

Fittler was also disappointed by the lopsided penalty count. "I just don't think he did a good job," the coach said of Maxwell. "I thought we were hammered. They were lying all over us, second efforts in tackles all day, and at no stage did he look like he was dragging them off us. It's most probably part of coaching these days, too - I've just got to look at that more and how we can do that a lot more effectively."

There were also howls of protest at Maxwell's decision not to consult the video referee after Anthony Tupou was dragged down dramatically in the 77th minute and fellow forward Willie Mason attempted to score the leveller.

The Eels' Nathan Hindmarsh admitted afterwards he played at the football when it spilled out of Tupou's grasp just inches from the line, although Mason seemed to knock on as the ball broke free. "They look at the [video] referee for everything else, why wouldn't they for a touch-and-go call when there's minutes to go," Anasta said. "It's confusing, to me."

Fittler was puzzled when asked if he felt the decision should have been referred. "You'd think so," he said, repeating the line several times. "It's unbelievable. You'd think he would look."

The Roosters have further problems with Fitzgibbon facing an anxious wait to see how an injured ankle heals ahead of a short turnaround and the prospect of an away trip to Melbourne on Friday night. "It's bloody sore," he said.

Winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall was on crutches following the game after appearing to aggravate a knee problem, and he also faces a stint on the sidelines.