Ikin vows to protect referees as Souths Inala player charged with assault

Queensland Rugby League chief executive Ben Ikin has promised to investigate ways to protect working referees after a player was charged with assault on the weekend following an on-field incident in April.

Injured referee Brian Roper is taken off the field after an incident in which his throat was injured in April during a Souths Inala and Dayboro match.

Queensland Rugby League chief executive Ben Ikin has promised to investigate ways to protect working referees after a player was charged with assault on the weekend following an on-field incident in April.

Brisbane Rugby League Referees Association referee Brian Roper spent three days in hospital after he was allegedly kicked in the throat during a senior football match between Dayboro and Souths Inala Warriors at Acacia Ridge in April.

This month, a Souths Inala player in the senior Rugby League Brisbane competition received the harshest penalty ever meted out in the game’s history in Queensland after QRL and Rugby League Brisbane banned him for life from the code.

Brisbane Rugby League Referees Association referee Brian Roper sustained injuries to his throat.

On the weekend, police charged 23-year-old Redbank Plains man Peter Maseesee with assault occasioning bodily harm in relation to the incident.

He is due to appeal in Richlands Magistrates Court in August.

In a heartfelt letter to Mr Roper, the QRL boss said he was aware of the incident and had allocated staff to review suggestions made by Rugby League Brisbane Referees Association.

“I’ve been made aware of the incident and am pleased to hear you are recovering from your injury,” Mr Ikin wrote in the letter.

“The QRL takes the safety of our valued match officials very seriously and we are continually working on improving programs and support to ensure our match officials feel safe and can enjoy their experience in our game,” the letter said.

“I really appreciate the time you have taken to provide suggested solutions considering the circumstances of the incident.

“I have asked the General Manager of Community Rugby League Adam Vanzanten to review your suggestions and respond accordingly.

“Thank you for your continued dedication to our game as an on-field match official and a member for the Brisbane Rugby League Referee Association Management committee and wish you all the very best for the remainder of the season.”

Brisbane Rugby League Referee Association president Alan Reese said suggestions to the QRL from referees included ensuring that a match sheet of all players’ names and numbers was signed by players, coaches and referees prior to players taking to the field.

Other requests to the QRL included ensuring that every senior match was video recorded.

“We are all working together to try to improve the system that is already in place,” Mr Reese said.

“Clubs are already supposed to have full recordings of all senior matches and even if all our suggestions are upheld, there is no guarantee they will stop all bad behaviour on field.

“But these are possible solutions that we would hope the league would patrol.”