There’s no doubt we’ve got some talented young referees coming through in QPR—guys like Pook, Marshall, and a few others really stand out. But the reality is, the overall standard of refereeing in the lower grades is poor. I’ve watched a few games recently, and honestly, the standard is extremely poor— It’s not even enjoyable to watch, let alone fork out $500–$600 a season just to end up frustrated because some bloke with a whistle thinks he’s the most important person on the field. That’s not what community rugby is meant to be about.
The old boys’ club is still alive and well. Some good young referees get crucified for minor mistakes, while a few older or ‘protected’ refs keep getting appointed week after week—even in games where they’re clearly out of their depth.
And before anyone comes at me for saying this—I’ve been a ref myself. I did it for a few years, but I walked away from it in Brisbane because of exactly this kind of stuff.
If players, coaches, and volunteers are held to account, then referees should be too. It’s part of being involved in the game. What’s frustrating is seeing some officials repeatedly handed games they’re not up to, while younger refs with real potential are overlooked—either because they’re seen as too “green” or because they’re not part of the inner circle. That’s not how you build quality pool of referees.
There’s this strange ideology floating around that referees are somehow above criticism—that we should never question their performance. But why? Every other part of the game is open to feedback, review, and improvement. Referees shouldn’t be exempt from that. Honest critique isn’t abuse—it’s how the game gets better and more enjoyable for everyone including the referees
