Ex-player to make NRL referee debut in match

Roar Guru

By Steve Kaless, 20 Aug 2010 Steve Kaless is a Roar Guru

Tagged:: Luke Phillips, NRL, robert finch, Rugby League

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There has already been too much attention paid to referees this season, but on Saturday night I’ll be watching one with keen interest, and hopefully it will become a good news story. Former Roosters player Luke ‘Diamond’ Phillips will make his debut as an NRL referee in the Storm versus Sharks match.

His journey through the refereeing ranks started in 2007 and it will be great to see a former NRL player making that transition.

From the outset, I don’t wish to downplay the efforts of all the other referees who worked hard to reach the NRL. And they should be applauded. But it’s great to see someone from the playing ranks make that transition.

It would be good if the NRL was able to tap into the pool of ex-players to increase the competition for spots amongst the ranks of the referees.

I’m sure referees are like players in that greater competition for places should logically bring about better performance.

One of the biggest criticisms we hear about referees is that they have “no feel” for the game. That, not having played the game at the level, means they are often duped or follow the law too closely to the detriment of the game itself.

There is some merit to the argument and it will be interesting to see whether Phillips displays any greater understanding because of his history as a player.

It is also great for young referees you ply their trade on weekends with little thanks and plenty of abuse from knuckle dragging parents.

It’s become a national sport to abuse referees and while most ex-players join the queue to bag them as media commentators that one is willing to join the dark side should also be something of an olive branch between players and officials.

Hopefully, that Phillips was willing to give refereeing “a go” might encourage others who are quick to express their dismay with the quality of officiating to also try their hand.

I’m confident Robert Finch will also be watching his performance as he’ll be keen to show what his role can produce rather than just a string of excuses to a blood thirsty mob each Tuesday.

In some ways it is slightly ironic that the most experienced referee has brought so much controversy to the game this week and yet the most inexperienced one could repair much of the damage to the reputation of referees with a solid performance.

But, of course, the real irony is that if he does a really good job, we should barely know he is there.

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The Crowd Says (7) | Page 1 of Comments

Adrian Bauk said | August 20th 2010 @ 8:29am | Report comment

It’s going to be great to see how he referees the game from an ex players perspective. I think he is going to understand the ruck much better than any other ref would.

Hopefully Phillips does a great job and they fast track some more ex players through the ranks. I also feel the players will respect them more.

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Brett McKay said | August 20th 2010 @ 8:37am | Report comment

yeah, good stuff Steve. I hope Luke Phillips makes as good a fist of NRL refereeing as do Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker to first class and international cricket.

It’s always great to see ex-players coming through, and should Phillips make the grade, it would be interesting to compare (in 12-18 months time) games under his control to games under a non-playing ref, just to see how interpretations and ‘feel for the game’ differ…

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Happy Hooker said | August 20th 2010 @ 9:09am | Report comment

Let’s hope all debutant referees go well. The more we get doing it, be they former top-level players or not, the more the standard will rise.

It would also be a mistake to fast track former players, at the expense of other good, young referees, who may lose heart if they see others being brought in over their heads. Does anyone seriously think that Pistol would have got so far so fast if he hadn’t been a former test cricketer?

The NRL also has the benefit of its two-referee system, meaning it can appoint a newby to officiate with the benefit of having another experienced referee out there with them.

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oikee said | August 20th 2010 @ 9:17am | Report comment

I watched him ref a couple of games, was it NSW cup, he went really well. Had a feel for the game. This is a great avenue for ex-players, might even start to bring a lighter side to the game.
The women refs would be a good idea also.

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- M1tch said | August 20th 2010 @ 9:24am | Report comment
  
  Feel for the game is the most important aspect..hopefully he can teach the other refs about that
  
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Jammy said | August 20th 2010 @ 12:20pm | Report comment

I great idea – ex players would be fit and obviously know and love the game.
One problem with your article though. I don’t think R Finch watches games going by his post round explanations.

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Andrew Sutherland said | August 20th 2010 @ 11:49pm | Report comment

The problem with ex players is they usually have titanium hips and no knee cartilage left.
Phillips needed 11 injections to play the 2002 grand final as well as having a shoulder reconstruction and a dual groin operation the following year.
Does he use a runner; and someone to raise his arm on the 5th tackle?

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