In another The Roar exclusive, we have obtained a copy of the super-secret letter prepared by NRL referees for Bill “Hollywood” Harrigan:
Dear Bill,
It’s time we talked. Or, to be more precise, left a detailed note listing your faults duct-taped to your private ensuite while we hide behind the training sheds. No offence mate, but you were in the SWAT team once.
Firstly, we would just like to say that as your long-serving minions, we fully respect all you have achieved in the game, and the man you have become. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that you’re the same cheeky young go getter who blew that penalty against Bruce McGuire in the ’89 GF. God, how we used to laugh as you played it over and over again in the conference room.
Good times, Bill, good times.
You were also a marvellous referee who revolutionised the game, something we will never forget. To be honest, it’s actually kind of hard to forget, when you kept reminding us all the time.
But yet, here we stand.
At first when you and your mate Stuart ‘Just call me Johnny’ Raper took over we couldn’t believe our luck. Wacko, here was the man who’d refereed so many great Origins, Tests, finals and Gladiator episodes. And he was going to be our boss! This was better than new whistle day!
More importantly though you were a bloke who had stood at the coalface, calmly explained rule 34-A12* to it in a monotone drawl and then sent it off for an early shower.
You were one of us.
As time went on though, like in so many relationships, things began to change. Your eccentricities which were cute, if not charming at first, slowly began to grate.
Little things like switching Wednesday evenings from X-Box night to Bikram yoga night. Putting us in painful police takedown holds until we passed out for fun. Hogging the mirror in the changing rooms. Bringing your ab-roller into the Video Ref’s box. Switching the yearly mad Monday celebrations from a day at Simbio Wildlife Park to a 35km soft sand run being barked at by your SAS mates.
Then, there was the psychological stuff.
Constantly mispronouncing Matt Cecchin’s name as “Chicken’. Giving Shayne Hayne the nickname ‘The Situation’.
We appreciate what you were trying to do here, toughen us up for the real world etc, but when you reduced poor little Tony de las Heras to tears over his poor craftsmanship at the Easter bonnet parade, we knew things had changed forever.
Then, when you started hogging Sean Hampstead’s limelight after he worked so hard for his headline in Origin one, what with your Billy Madison type explanation, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The growing discomfort around the once serene surrounds of Ref HQ cannot be ignored any longer.
We are tired, stressed, heavily gelled and just want to go back to the simple life of being pelted with empty food containers and having our sexuality questioned every couple of minutes.
What we’re trying to say Bill is that maybe we’re holding you back, the world could use a bloke like you. Think of all the campy game shows, junior presentation nights and dry TV sports panels that are just waiting to be ‘Billed’.
So go forth sweet prince, oh Royalty of Refs. Spread your good word to the masses.
And may the touchies flags rise up to meet you, and the crowd’s abuse be always at your back.
Sincerely,
NRL Refs 2012
Follow Chris on Twitter: Vic_Arious@twitter.com
PJC
Guest
This is just NSW continuing to have a whinge after the loss in Origin one and all it does is prove that NSW are the spoilt brats of Rugby League. If NSW had scored a try like the Inglis try, we would not have had this controversy drag on so long and Harrigan's job would not be on the line. Harrigan has screwed QLD out of many Origin wins and it just gets swept away and if we do complain, we are called sooks and whingers and told to shut up and deal with it. NSW, the spoilt brats of Rugby League will get their way and game two of the Origin will be a farse as the referees will be too afraid to penalise NSW out of fear of being ridiculed and losing their positions. Bill Harrigan is a tool that needs to go but not because NSW are still crying over their origin loss.
Meesta Cool
Guest
Your thoughts on where the focus will lie is completely wrong,, people only discuss what the media throw at them... nothing like a good story, -- even if it is made up!... lol And yeah,, dunno where the boys in the pub get their whispers from, but they are more reliable than Official club /NRL statements!.. Roll on game #2 footnote.. We all know what we create when we "ASSUME"..
Dane Eldridge
Expert
Shane 'The Situation' Hayne. That is a classic line with a nasty aftertaste. I just envisaged this 'Jersey Refs' scene with Bill talking to Snooki about the hands in the ruck rule while his boi Tony-A tanned in the background.
Scott
Guest
I thought you were being serious until I saw the bit about Freddy reading...
Ghost of Dj Roomba
Guest
There is only one solution really ...... Freddy for head of the referees. Will be classic seeing him miss making a video ref decision because he is too busy reading the jokes in a Zoo weekly mag
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Meesta The boys at the pub are rarely wrong....to be honest, I thought that is what everyone assumed anyway. You would think that the focus would be on a game on the 13th called origin II.
Meesta Cool
Guest
Wow Scott !!, "if the mail is correct that this has emanated from from the 2 NSW selectors, one being the coach" , -- If that is not sensationalism or rumourmongering, then someone needs to be stood down from any involvement in SOO or rugby league for the rest of this season. sounds a bit like Tricky''s MO to me.. Is anyone acountable for their actions in this sport?.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Chris, The fault is in the wording of the rules and they need to be updated in line with modern technology NOW! The real story is who has got into Freddys ear to white ant on Bill to Gallop? Firstly, it is none of Freddys business and he should stay on the sideline, and if the mail is correct that this has emanated from from the 2 NSW selectors, one being the coach, then what a gutless way to go about it.
Maroon Blood
Guest
lol CC. You're here all week, try the veal.
Chris Chard
Expert
Hi MB Greg McCallum is now a marriage celebrant... so he still gets to oversee his fair share of wrong decisions Hiyoooo! CC
Maroon Blood
Guest
I was given Harrigan's autobiography as a present and, try as I might, could only read half of it before it got ditched. There was only so much self-promoting, I'm never wrong, I'm s**t-hot at everything I have ever done tripe I could stomach. Never liked what I saw of him on the TV (he is the only person alive who doesn't think NSW scored from not one, but TWO knock on's Game II 2000) and it was gratifying in a way to see in print that the general opinion of him as being an arrogant tosser is absolutely spot-on. Get rid of him and move on. What's Greg McCallum doing these days?
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
What was Bob Fulton's cement truck line?
steve b
Guest
who is his replacement ?
Droppa
Guest
Harrigan has promoted himself at the expense of rugby league long enough,hit the road bill.
Johnno
Guest
Sack Hollywood, A.S.A.P. This show pony has been allowed to get a job in this great sport of rugby league something Australians love since the 1980's . And he has been overrated and to be honest not up to NRL standard as a ref, try under 23's or Toyota cup. He is annoying, and Gordon Tallis called him a cheat in an origin match in 2000 . And all of QLD an Australia cheered Gordie that night. So overrated it is not funny, he just attract media attention to the game , and maybe sells tickets but is annoying as they come as a bloke and as a ref. This pressure and blowtorch now being applied to Hollywood is the chat Australia had to have with Hollywood Harrigan It has been brewing for 25 years this chat now it has come out in the open finally, and rugby league will all be the better for it. This stifling, destructive toxic man that Bill Harrigan is too rugby league. The players hate him, other refs have been critical of him, the fans hate him, men don't like him, in fact everyone hate him. No one likes him. He act all like he is glamourous or good looking to, always carries on like a good sort he seems to think he is. Way too arrogant W****ker for my liking. A show pony precious attitude if you ask me. I used to hate his long flowing hair while he reffereed super league 1997 matches too. Who did he think he was Brad Pitt or Fabio or some Hollywood moviestar. Brad filter went to some eating to discuss about him yesterday. So yes lets kick him out this has been brewing for 25 years the chat Australia had to him. It's time to go Hollywodd Bill Harrigan, and you were not even funny in those lows commercials mate, too , unlike the Big marn, and sirro, and terry hill, . And desie hasler didn't seem to forgot the old cement truck episode from he 1980's about Harrigan either yesterday at a press conference. Ken arko arthurson, and bobby Fultons famous ripping into Bill harrigan in the 1980's. Funny that too Manly did not lose a penalty count for 14 weeks after the cement truck episode as Harrigan did not ref 1 Manly match for 14 weeks in that season in the 1980's So yes it's time to go Bill harridan and even Manly hated you too and they are the most hated club.