The NRL grand final is the pinnacle of the season for the officials. State of Origin games, Test matches – they are all left in the shadow of the premier appointment of the season.
Former grand final referee and referee coach Mick Stone had a phrase that he would share from time to time.
“The in-form officials get the Origin games, but only the best get the grand final.”
It’s not just a game of football for the players and it’s not much different for the referees. The players are representing their clubs and families, and the officials represent their respective associations and their families as well. For everyone involved there is personal pride.
In one sense there is a significant difference: for the officials their grand final achievement has already been realised. Once the appointments are released on the Tuesday of grand final week, they have fulfilled their goal of being selected to participate in the game.
You could argue that it doesn’t matter what happens on Sunday. That it doesn’t matter what decisions they make, how many times they stuff things up or whether they lose control of the match and sin bin half a dozen players.
I can assure you it certainly doesn’t seem that way to them, and they will be hell-bent on getting the job done to the best of their abilities. The officials appointed to the most important game of the season are representing every person who has ever helped them achieve this honour. There will be nothing taken lightly at ANZ Stadium this weekend.
In 2015 that responsibility falls to Gerard Sutton, Ben Cummins, Brett Suttor and Steve Carrall. (Add to those on-field officials Bernard Sutton and Luke Patten in the video referees’ box, but I hope they prove to be simply well-seated spectators and don’t get summoned to review a decision.)
However, I am wistful in my naivete, as I know the Sutton boys were the only considerations for their jobs this week. Gerard is the most conservative referee we’ve seen since the man who appointed him, Tony Archer, carried a whistle. The current administration wants caution from their referees and that’s exactly what they get with Gerry Sutton.
Combine that with Bernard as custodian of the red and green buttons and we have a predictable couple of appointments. After the establishment supported Bernard when he failed to overturn a try a fortnight ago his appointment this week was fait accompli.
The referees have a phrase of their own that they use when it comes to a decision that could be 50-50 but in the cold hard light of day can only go one way. “If it looks like a pig, if it oinks like a pig, and if it smells like a pig, then it’s a pig.”
Well in the case of the Kane Evans try against the Bulldogs, not only did it look and smell like a pig, it was a stinking decomposing carcass short of the try-line. If only Bernard had followed that humble, simple advice – but maybe he was waiting for an oink. It never came, but it didn’t matter anyway. He’s been the heir apparent to the role of chief bunker video referee for so long nothing would have mattered.
The only other controversial appointment was Ben Cummins as the assistant referee role over Matt Cecchin and Gavin Badger. They all would have been in the running for the second referee position but in the end it came down to the two best referees for the roles. Cummins has been ‘pocket ref’ for Cecchin for the past two games, so the decision would have been on best fit for the team.
If the referees’ coaching staff weren’t going to go with Cecchin in the control referee role, then they probably felt more comfortable in using Cummins in the pocket. And let’s face it – Tony Abbott had more chance of winning the next federal election than Cecchin supplanting Sutton.
The touch judge roles went to Suttor and Carrall. There were a few contestants for those positions all finals series but these guys have got the nod and I hope they nail it.
As for all the guys appointed, they are halfway through a terrific week of lead-up events. Training is usually a bit easier in this final week and there are plenty of phone calls and text messages of congratulations. There’s the grand final luncheon that the NRL hosts, then there’s the annual life members’ lunch that the New South Wales Referees’ Association holds on Saturday. In between is the whole build-up and sense that there’s a historic occasion to be part of.
For someone like me it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and something I won’t forget. In my case it was 2011 and from the time Stuart Raper called me on the Tuesday to tell me I had a line for that year’s grand final the rest of the week went in a flash.
I got to meet Sir Peter Leitch, ‘The Mad Butcher’, at the grand final breakfast that year. I got a photo with him and we had a brief conversation.
“Oh, you’re a touch judge? What – in first grade?” he said.
“Yes,” I replied. “I’ll get a close spot to witness your boys play this week, anyway.”
“Geez, that’s great that is, well done! You must be happy with that. You know, I don’t know much about the game. In fact I don’t even know most of the rules. I’m busy with work most of the time, so this is a bit of fun for me to get away from it, because I just want to enjoy my footy. You have fun on Sunday mate!”
So do as Sir Peter says, and enjoy the grand final this weekend. Best of luck to all involved, especially our match officials.
It’s a day of pride and achievement, and with two Queensland teams competing for the first time, it’s a piece of rugby league history.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
New coach Michael Maguire is considering as many as 50 players for the State of Origin series opener with not even captain James Tedesco…
All the team list information for Round 9.
NRL signings, contracts and rosters for the 2024 season and beyond.
Anzac Round is done and another NRL touchpoint is ticked off amid the onward march of the 2024 season. It helps to see things…
The Sydney Roosters have been dealt another major blow with club legend Luke Keary announcing that he will retire from the NRL at the…
The Bulldogs are facing a $4 million lawsuit from former player Jackson Topine, after allegedly being forced to wrestle his teammates as punishment for…
