Sideline abuse blamed as lack of field officials threatens games
Referee drought looms as numbers decline
The Hills
Don't miss out on the headlines from The Hills. Followed categories will be added to My News.
As another junior rugby league season gets under way, clubs around the country are posting call-outs for registrations.
But it is important to not forget that the game doesn’t run on players alone.
Right from the NRL to the under-6s, referees are tasked to handle a tough job in sometimes even tougher circumstances.
And fewer and fewer people are putting their hands up to do it.
Ben McMurray has been a referee with the Parramatta District Referees Association for eight years and has witnessed the decline.
“I have seen a lot of people come and go through the association,” he said.
“Definitely more going than coming.”
The Parramatta association stretches from Parramatta and Cumberland to The Hills district and Blacktown, encompassing upwards of 5000 players and 170 games every week.
Managing those games is left up to a crew of just over 30.
McMurray said the association was in desperate need of about 20 referees for this season.
“At the end of the day if there is no referee, we have no game,” he said.
He blamed abuse of officials as the leading cause of whistleblowers abandoning the role.
“Referees — just like players — are under pressure to perform so I do think the scrutiny does have some impact on our numbers,” he said.
But despite it being a tough gig, McMurray said it was a job he would not trade for anything.
“It’s a good way to keep fit, make friends and earn a bit of cash,’’ he said.
“We’re looking for kids aspiring to become the next Bill Harrigan or parents that want to stay in the game as they can no longer play.”
If you would like to get involved, go to parramattarefs.com.au