Blow that whistle: seven reasons you should respect the ref in the NRL Grand Final

This weekend’s rugby league Grand Final sees the Sydney Roosters face the Melbourne Storm in front of a stadium crowd of thousands – and even more on television. All eyes will be on the referee to make sure the play is fair.

Like elite athletes, the reputation of these full-time professional refs is often summarised by their performance in high-pressure, high-stakes events – watched by people they can never impress.

Over the past three years, I have spent countless hours studying how NRL referees learn their craft.

So, ahead of this year’s NRL grand final, here are some aspects that might help you see the game from a ref’s point of view.

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Gerard Sutton (left) refereeing the 2015 Grand Final between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys. Johnathan Thurston of the Cowboys (centre) and Justin Hodges of the Broncos (right). AAP Image/Paul Miller

1. Mt Everest moment

The Grand Final is the ultimate. It is the pinnacle of a referee’s work over the course of the year. Everyone wants to make it, to earn the right to rule.

But they may never reach that pinnacle again.

So remember that they want the best: they really want to represent the game, the two teams involved, the fans and those referees who didn’t make the final, to the best of their ability.

Referee Jon Stone (left) with Daly Cherry-Evans (right) of the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in a match against the Gold Coast Titans. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

2. You only see it once

Referees make split-second decisions. They only see things once, often only a small movement, and usually at speed.

They have to calculate the right moment to strike. They don’t have the luxury of multiple video replays to get it right.

Even without the involvement of the bunker – a centralised facility that records the game from several angles and to which refs can refer decisions for review – consider how hard this is to maintain faultlessly (and fearlessly) over two 40-minute blocks.

Refs can call on the bunker for help.

3. They never fly solo

During the course of a game, lead referees have to cope with listening to their assistant referee, two line judges, the matchday referee coach, players yelling at them, and occasionally spectators who provide their own helpful advice.

They also have to call for assistance, knowing that this may overrule something on which they have already made a ruling.

Remember, few of us hold jobs where people are simultaneously speaking to us, where we have to demand a second opinion, and where we can be called out for our mistakes on national television.

Everyone’s a critic of the refs.

4. Reading their mind

Each referee’s decision-making prowess is strongly predicated on their ability to read the game. They need to “feel” situations as they dynamically unfold with respect to players’ actions, movements and tensions.

Refs need to internally interpret, process and recall important variables and situations and to then blend these into accurate, constructive decisions that affect a given action or outcome both now and into the future of the game.

James Maloney (left) of the Panthers remonstrates with referee Gerard Sutton (right) during a match between the Penrith Panthers and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

5. Collectively attuned

The lead and assistant refs in a Grand Final know their roles individually and collectively. On match day, they are tightly woven, well-attuned to each others nuances and thoughts.

Their thinking in action also imperceptibly defines and shapes a tone and rhythm for how the game unfolds.

But remember, they constantly formulate these actions in the context of the whole, never as individuals, but rather as part of the overall fabric of the game.

Daly Cherry-Evans (left) of the Sea Eagles reacts to referee Henry Perenara (centre) during a match between the Sydney Roosters and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. AAP Image/Brendan Esposito

6. Refereeing is hard work

NRL referees run about 8.2km per game. They consistently manage around 282 rucks and 36 kicks in play.

They also spend a staggering 31% of their game time in high anaerobic heart rate sectors of 170 beats per minute (BPM) or above.

At the same time, referees are dynamically adjusting their field positions to continually remain alongside the play, all while making decisions at speed.

When was the last time you ran this far while also completing several intermittent sprint efforts, and making mentally taxing decisions all the while?

Jake Trbojevic (left) of the Sea Eagles disputes a decision by referee Grant Atkins (right) during a match between the West Tigers and the Manly Sea Eagles. AAP Image/Paul Miller

7. They love the game

Referees are passionate about rugby league. Many played the game as juniors, while others have family members involved.

They also love the challenge and excitement of league and the camaraderie that comes with such a high-profile sport.

But referees are expected to look serious, lack personality and ignore the distractions from both participants and spectators.

Remember, they are not permitted to publicly express their support, or otherwise, for particular teams or results, or provide insights into how they feel about their sport.

Referee Matt Cecchin blows the whistle for the start of play between the Penrith Panthers and the Canberra Raiders. AAP Image/Brendon Thorne

Be gentle

So, remember that referees are just people – albeit people who are extremely driven, focused, energetic athletes who are strongly anchored to performing the perfect game.

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They work as hard as elite players, both physically and mentally, to store and retrieve rules, learn new rules, learn every player’s name, stay fit, and make correct decisions at lightning speed.

Remember too that on Grand Final Day, most fans’ satisfactions are often driven by how well their team performs – which means it is often easier (and more acceptable) to ignore the loss if it can be blamed on the referees, rather than your own team’s play.

And don’t hit the ref! Matt Moylan of the Sharks collides with assistant referee Phil Henderson during a match between the Penrith Panthers and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts