Let me paint a picture for you, fellow Roarers. It’s Thursday night, and like every other avid NRL fan, I’m desperately looking forward to this weekend’s games (despite being an Eels fan and having long since come to accept that the 1980s aren’t coming back).
So, I’m on my laptop, and suddenly I think, ‘I wonder who was awarded the referee positions this week?’. It is not something many people would think, but as a junior referee I was curious.
The Broncos versus Roosters game I saw first, and according to NRL.com, the referee will be Gerard Sutton, and the assistant will be Gavin Badger. Both highly commendable referees, and Sutton is arguably the best in the game right now (Ashley Klein and Luke Patten are the video referees, in case anyone is wondering).
Moving along to the Storm versus Cowboys match, I was personally hoping to see Jared Maxwell make a return, but wasn’t expecting it. Immediately I scanned down to the referee’s name, and my jaw dropped.
Referee: Matt Cecchin
Assistant referee: Ben Cummins
First of all, why is Cummins only an assistant referee? One would think that he deserves to be the main referee at this stage of the year and to see him relegated to assistant is quite disappointing.
More importantly, can someone please explain how Cecchin is still refereeing any game at all this year? And for goodness sake, why has he been given the centre position?
Just as the referees in charge of the infamous Sharks versus Cowboys game in 2013 were dropped for their performance in that game, surely ‘Chicken Legs’ Cecchin missed too many crucial calls to be awarded one of two centre spots in the grand final qualifiers?
When you think of referees like Adam Devcich, Gavin Morris, Alan Shortall and of course Maxwell, you have to wonder why Cecchin’s blunder last week is being rewarded.
Dan Eastwood, is there some criteria that I’m missing here? Am I completely off base or is this a legitimate concern?
(For the record, I would have had Cummins referee the game, assisted by Maxwell.)
Andrew
Guest
That umpires in the rabbits game are shocking. Cecchini hasn't been so bad. The umpire who umpired the Rabbits last week & this week is a cheat. Don't know how he gets away with it. If I was playing the Rabbits I'd make a complaint to don't want him umpiring. If he isn't a cheat he is the worst umpire I have seen. I won't be watching another game after these umpiring displays. It's pathetic to watch. The line judges don't even have a clue where to go. Stick NRL up your ass. Never again will i watch this shit.
Russell
Guest
The problem is right there at the beginning of your article - ‘I wonder who was awarded the referee positions this week?’ The obsession with refereeing has grown exponentially with social media. But webites don't bag referees people bag referees. By starting off with the question who is going to ref? You have only yourself to blame if the news upsets you. You have already nailed your very low expectations to the mast and now you're expecting the boat to sink! Whenever we criticise a ref nowadays it's because the three questionable decisions in a game are the only ones we bother about. When and until we have the archangel Gabriel and co reffing we are going to get, wait for it...............mistakes. And until God is the Video official we'll only have our own poor sensory data and biased notions of what is going on! I once went home furious from a game with a ref (rather than slightly annoyed) I re-watched the match later. The ref'd got one wrong,- I'd got one wrong and the rest of the time he was right about roughly 95% with his assessments. and none of this had any real affect on the fact that my team was outplayed on the day! By the way do I care what the Wallabies are up to, or anyone else in the RUWC NOOOOOOOO!
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Checchin must have had a reasonable game last night. I don't recall getting too cranky by any decisions. There was a period in the first half with piggyback penalties going Storm's way which marched them almost the length of the field. But I felt the penalties were deserved so no complaints.
The Koomz
Guest
Evans try was a bad call. Procedures or not! He should be dropped and everybody will move on.
DB
Guest
It's only defamation if the person making the statement has at least a slither of credibility
ex referee
Guest
jacksyd your comment is close to defamation how dare you suggest Matt CECCHIN IS DISHONEST?
Jacksyd
Guest
Maybe if Ceccin was refereeing the roosters broncos game it could well have been the same score but the roosters way
ex referee
Guest
You people must be very proud of yourselves. The rules as they stand make the referees say TRY or NO TRY, Matt Cecchin has been one of the form referees of 2015 and deservedly has the Storm v Cowboys game. If you want to throw bullets, throw them at Bernard Sutton & Ben Galea, the 2 VR's Cecchin did what he was expected to do pass it to them for adjudication. Archer for a refreshing change supported Cecchin, who followed protocol, his refereeing of the remainder of the fixture didn't deserve any criticism. There was a forward pass I think but TJ Jason Walsh was at fault he was positioned to call it and did not. Jared Maxwell incorrectly ruled a penalty to St George to make the score 10-all against the Bulldogs which sent the match to golden point. He was subsequently dropped. Don't you guys don't the finer points of the rules, give the bloke a fair go.
Samtwocan
Guest
Blah blah blah whinge whine blah blah blah .... It's time to give the toy back to the other child and move on .
G
Guest
I wasnt even aware of this until I read this article. If i happened to be one of the many referees who missed out this week, I'd be thinking "well, next season I'll have to make one of the biggest blunders ever seen, and make sure it's chicken time no matter how obvious the try/no try was, that's how I'll get a coveted main referee position for the preliminary final!". Or I'd be thinking "geez Archer picks his mate no matter how bad he goes".
JAYDEN :)
Guest
I would pick: Broncos v Roosters Lead Referee: Gerard Sutton Assistant: Gavin Badger Storm v Cowboys Lead Referee: Jarred Maxwell Assistant: Ben Cummins NRL Grand Final Lead Referee: Jarred Maxwell Assistant: Gerard Sutton I think the best Ref in the game is Jarred Maxwell
Muzz
Guest
lol
Mike Dugg
Roar Rookie
Give him a chance
curaeus
Guest
Hands down worst referee in the NRL. Shouldn't be allowed within a bulls roar of any finals game
Mike from Tari
Guest
Well blow me down with a feather, no don't bother, no surprise after Archer made a complete fool of himself by declaring Evans try as a fair one, don't know if I'll watch the game, not a fan of either team, just frustrated at referee cock ups.