The NSWRL referees program has received one of the highest accolades in the game by having three of its members appointed to officiate on NRL Grand Final Day this Sunday.
Mitch Currie is on the sideline for the NRLW decider between the Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Titans, while Daniel Luttringer, who controlled the NSWRL Sydney Shield Grand Final this year, is the standby official.
The 2022 Grade Referee of the Year, Cameron Paddy (pictured above), has been appointed touch judge for the NRL State Championship Final between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Brisbane Easts.
Paddy was the referee for The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Grand Final between the Rabbitohs and North Sydney Bears at CommBank Stadium last weekend.
The referee handling the NSWRL Jersey Flegg Cup (Under 21s) Grand Final last Sunday, Kieren Irons, has been named standby official for the State Championship.
“This is the most representation of NSW officials that we’ve had on grand final day,” said NSWRL Referees High Performance Manager Stuart Raper.
“It’s good acknowledgement for our squad and what we do here.
“Cameron has worked his way through the squad and become our No.1 referee. He’s a really good trainer, very fit, and a dedicated official.
“He’s got aspirations of going higher and hopefully this is a step to getting there.”
Currie, who has been a central referee for the NRLW this year, is one of the top referees in NSW Cup – the state league’s premier men’s competition and second tier for the NRL.
“Mitch is probably one of the first to our referees training sessions each week,” said Raper.
“He has advanced his skills very well in the past two years.”
Raper said officials don’t always get the recognition the players received when making a Grand Final.
“The thing is that referees don’t get the wins or get to sing the team songs … but these sorts of occasions are the ‘wins’ for them,” he said.
“The Grand Final appointments are really important to them – it tops off a great year.”
It should also be acknowledged that three officials for the NRL Grand Final between Penrith and Brisbane – referee Adam Gee, touch judges Chris Sutton and David Munro – came through the NSWRL Referees performance and development programs.
