NRL referees’ coach Robert Finch has ended speculation over his future by confirming he is stepping down from the role.
Finch, a two-time premiership player and father of former NSW player Brett, has been in the position for eight years and says it’s time to take on “new challenges”.
“I have had the opportunity to consider the road ahead personally and have decided that as much as I love working with the referees and the clubs, I have reached the point where I need new challenges,” Finch said in a statement on Wednesday.
“There are still plenty of things I want to do in my career and this is the time to explore some of those options.”
News that Finch was considering stepping down from the role emerged in September after a difficult 2010 where referees found themselves involved in plenty of controversial decisions.
Finch will finish up after next week’s Four Nations final between Australia and New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The NRL refused to speculate on who would replace Finch, though reports have suggested match review committee chairman Greg McCallum is the frontrunner.
Former referees Bill Harrigan – one of the officials to face criticism this year – and Steve Clark are also thought to be in the running for the position.
NRL chief executive David Gallop praised Finch’s influence during his time in the role, which included the switch to full-time professionalism for officials and the introduction of the two-referee system.
“Being in charge of referees is a thankless task at times but anyone who looks back at Robert’s contribution to refereeing can’t fail to acknowledge the positive changes that he has driven in the game,” Gallop said.
“Finchy’s passion for the game and his experience in so many areas helped him drive the level of professionalism in refereeing to a new level and he is to be congratulated on that achievement.”
Elbow
Guest
Not sure if wanting new challenges would endear Finch to prospective employers. He failed miserably with the challenges his referees role threw him.
oikee
Guest
With all the shonky calls we had to put up with for 2 years in the NRL, not to mention the complete nonsense going on with the 4 nations decisions, he had to sack himself to allow the game to move on. Muppets, complete muppets the lot of them. Cant wait to see what happens with the treatment of rugby league in the southern states if we dont get rid of channel 9. Anyone with eyesite can see that they have done untold damage by not showing the game downsouth for 10 years. We are 10 years behind now, if they come out with the old, ( the veiwers dictate ratings garbage,) we might as well just retreat into NSW, shut up shop, and shut the game down so at least we will see the end of the dinosaur era. :) Channel 9 has the been the worse thing to happen to the game. It would also be nice to get rid of the muppets calling the game. Some of their comments are mindboggling. Gus and Rabbits are like the old men from the muppets. Critisizing the code all the time, to be quite frank, i am fed-up with those 2 goons, if you have not got something possitive to say, keep it shut.