AS football teams across the Central West prepare for another weekend of battle, veteran Bathurst rugby league referee Nick Lander has issued a plea to all footy fans across the Group 10 competition to give the referees a fair go.
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Mr Lander says he’s sick of the constant tirade of abuse directed at the officials and wants it to stop.
He said there couldn’t be any fixtures without the match-day officials who make many sacrifices to get to games played across the region to control the on-field action and run the sidelines.
His concerns surfaced this week following calls from NRL CEO Todd Greenberg to support hard-line penalties for anyone who assaults junior referees, an action he described as “abhorrent”.
Mr Greenberg said there was no place for any violence, verbal or physical, at any junior rugby league game.
Mr Lander says the Greenberg comments should be expanded to include the refs at a senior level, such as in Group 10.
“Every week we get abuse from spectators while controlling matches,” he said. “It’s wrong. We are out there doing our best week in, week out.
“Sure, we’re human and we do get some things wrong, but so do players on the field as well as the referees at the highest level who are pretty much professionals these days.
“The local supporters and parents in Group 10 have to realise this. If we weren’t out in the middle, there wouldn’t be a match. Full stop. End of story.
“And the fans who are never wrong and hurl the abuse at us ... well, they aren’t prepared to put their hands up and become referees are they?
“I have asked several times for these people to come along and do a course. They never turn up, and most of them wouldn’t have a clue about the laws of rugby league but are then the first to criticise.
“I run courses several times a year and I’m happy to put anyone through but, as usual, it’s only the junior league players that come. No parents, just players.”
Mr Lander said junior referees across Group 10 also cop mouthfuls from disgruntled parents.
“These juniors give up their time to make sure all the young kids get to run around the footy field each week,” he said.
“They start at 13 to become a referee and progress through as they get more experience as they get older and, hopefully, progress through to seniors.
“We have 1300 players in juniors and only around 70 referees to fill all games.”
Mr Lander said he knows senior referees who won’t go out on the weekend for fear of copping a spray from people at social events.
“My family will not attend games that I officiate in as they are horrified at the abuse thrown at me.
“Parents and spectators need to sit back, look through our eyes, take a minute to think about what we give up to referee, how much it takes us away from our families, and maybe just say ‘thanks ref’.’’
Mr Lander said the suspension of a player/spectator for 19 months earlier this year for abusing a match official should send a clear message to everyone to do the right thing.