The NRL has fined the Sydney Roosters $10,000 for the fourth time in as many years because of coach Ricky Stuart's ongoing run-ins with referees.

Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan said he was "surprised" that the NRL punished the club for comments Stuart made in his weekly newspaper column about referee Tim Mander.

Canavan said the matter would be reviewed but he was not prepared to say whether the Roosters would appeal the breach notice within the five-day period allowed.

He was reluctant to discuss Stuart's poor record with NRL officialdom and preferred to talk about the reasons behind the NSW Origin coach's outbursts.

"The thing that's outstanding about Ricky is that he strives for perfection himself as a coach," Canavan said.

"He strives for perfection for his team. He's very, very passionate.

"He's an amazing contributor to our game of rugby league from a junior league to a senior representative level. That's how I see him."

Stuart was fuming over several decisions from Mander that he said cost the Roosters victory against Manly at Aussie Stadium on Friday night.

Of particular concern to the NRL was Stuart's comments that "it's happening too frequently to think it's just 50-50 calls", suggesting a bias from referees against the Roosters.

NRL chief executive David Gallop said the league was left with no alternative but to issue the breach notice.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP