NRL Match Official Offers Mentoring and Support

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NRL Match Official Offers Mentoring and Support

Auckland, New Zealand July 6, 2010 – Each day a group of young men, all early school leavers, gather at Mt Smart Stadium under the watchful eye of Henry Turua, former rugby league player, now a teacher to complete their education with a focus on sport.

They start the day with a tough physical training session lead by Ruben Wiki, High Performance Manager at the NZRL before heading into the classroom. They are set a range of goals including running 100 km’s at which point they qualify for the ‘hundred club’ and are rewarded with kit – jerseys, shorts and socks. There are further rewards for those who make the ‘two hundred club’.

Managed by the SENZ Training and Employment centre, the young men are exposed to a number of different opportunities and then supported when they apply for employment.

This week visiting NRL Match Official, past NRL and Kiwis player Henry Perenara visited the group to talk to them about the benefits and pitfalls of playing rugby league and to suggest they consider becoming match officials.

Henry says “I loved playing league, I loved everything about it, but the injuries really took their toll on my body. I had three shoulder reconstructions and it would have all been over in my mid twenties if it wasn’t for this opportunity. Even the very best players like Steve Price have to finish in their 30’s, but referees can go on another 10 – 15 years after that.”

“Being able to stay involved in the game at this level is great. The referees are a team just like the teams I played for, and we get paid to do this, to travel and be involved in the game we love, and the worst injury I’ve had is the occasional hamstring strain.”

He continues “I told the guys that if they are interested they should consider getting out and refereeing the little kids, then they still have time to play their own game in the afternoon. It will give them a taste and it might extend their careers. My message was quite simple, don’t give up your footy but if you get to a point in your early 20’s where you’re just playing local reserve grade and then go drinking and have nothing to look forward too, then this is a really great alternative. This is a genuine career opportunity and there are people who want to help you succeed.”
 
Henry says that if any of the young people he meets decide they will follow it up then he is happy to support them and mentor them if they are serious.

Ian Mackintosh, National Referees Coordinator, NZRL agrees saying that both the ARL and the NZRL have the training and support systems in place to help anyone who is seriously interested in pursuing a career as a rugby league official.

-ENDS-

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