Returning referee Matt Cecchin will begin the 2019 season officiating reserve grade

Comeback referee Matt Cecchin has been overlooked for an appointment in this weekend’s opening round of the NRL competition and will referee a NSW Cup match instead.

Referee Matt Cecchin during the Elimination Final between the Penrith Panthers and the Warriors in Week 1 of the NRL Finals Series at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Saturday, September 8, 2018. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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Comeback referee Matt Cecchin has been overlooked for an appointment in this weekend’s opening round of the NRL competition.

Instead the former grand final, Origin and Test match referee will handle a NSW Cup game.

Head of Football Graham Annesley thought it would be unfair to pick Cecchin ahead of the referees who have trained hard in the full-time group throughout the off-season.

However The Daily Telegraph understands Cecchin will be likely to get an NRL game in Round 2.

The fan favourite, who quit at the end of last season, had to abandon his plan to referee in Super League because he could not obtain a work visa.

But six months after walking away from the NRL, Cecchin has been lured back by the promise of being allowed to let the games flow naturally in 2019.

Cecchin will start the season in reserve grade. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images.

“From the discussions I’ve had with squad members, there is a definite shift in the way we are going to officiate this year,” he said.

“It’s no secret that style of refereeing suits my natural game. There was the change required by me last year to officiate in a way that wasn’t natural to me — that wasn’t part of my natural game.”

Originally published as Returning referee Matt Cecchin will begin the 2019 season officiating reserve grade