Daniel Schwass trades footy boots for referee’s whistle in his bid to become an NRL professional

DANIEL Schwass might be headed for the NRL stage after all.

Daniel Schwass (right) with identical twin Hayden Schwass. Daniel is pulling the pin on his playing days to have a shot at becoming an NRL referee and could come across his brother, who plays for Burleigh, along the way. Picture: Mike Batterham

DANIEL Schwass might be headed for the NRL stage after all.

The former Gold Coast Titans under-20 player has hung up the boots at the age of 22 to pursue his long-held ambition of becoming a professional rugby league referee.

Schwass had been identified as a leading young referee in his teens.

“Five years ago was the last time I reffed a game properly,” he said.

“I was progressing quite well. I was 17, did the state 15s final which I don’t think had ever been done before but from there I pretty much had to make a choice whether I was going to play footy or ref full-time.”

He played halfback for Burleigh in the second-tier Queensland Cup competition this year alongside identical twin brother Hayden but made the call at the end of the season that his best chance of making the grade was with a whistle in hand.

Schwass simply loves the challenge of officiating.

Hayden and Daniel Schwass. Picture: Mike Batterham

“I want to try to take the next step and move up through the grades and hopefully one day towards the NRL,” he said.

He is preparing to work his way up from the state under-18 and under-20 competitions.

As for the prospect of refereeing his brother and former teammates? “My career is on the line as well as theirs playing, so you’re not going to do anything stupid”.

Schwass’ older brother Zac is also a referee.