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NSWRL Referees Association

3 hours ago

Special Edition Profile #21 – Beyond First Grade
Celebrating officials who made an impact without officiating first grade.

Today we recognise Gavin King, a referee from the Central Coast Referees Association who progressed through the representative pathways to become a specialist touch judge with the NSW Rugby League Referees’ Association.

At the conclusion of the 2011 season, Gavin was officially graded as a specialist touch judge, becoming graded member #959.

Although he did not officiate in the NRL first-grade competition, Gavin earned appointments across several important competitions:
🚩 12 NSW Cup matches as a touch judge
🚩 Eight NYC/Under-20s matches as a touch judge
🚩 2011 ARL Schoolboy Cup Final

Gavin’s first NSW Cup appointment came in Round 23 of 2011, when the Western Suburbs Magpies played the Windsor Wolves at Campbelltown Stadium. Phil Haines was the referee, with Gavin and Lawrence McDonell operating as the touch judges.

His NSW Cup career continued throughout 2012, with appointments at venues including Henson Park, Cessnock, Belmore and Campbelltown. He also officiated NYC matches at major venues such as AAMI Park in Melbourne and Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium in Gosford.

Another representative honour came in 2012 when Gavin was appointed as a touch judge for the NSW Police versus Queensland Police match in Sydney, alongside Peter Crombie-Brown, with David Munro as referee.

His final NSW Cup appointment was in Round 19 of 2012, when the Newtown Jets met the Western Suburbs Magpies at Henson Park.

Gavin’s officiating achievements were not limited to rugby league. Touch Football Australia also identified Gavin King of the Central Coast as an international touch football referee, placing him among a highly regarded group of officials selected for the 2012 Peter Wilson Memorial Junior Championships.

Gavin’s story demonstrates that an official’s contribution cannot be measured only by whether they reached first grade. Through his performances in the NSW Cup, NYC, representative rugby league, schoolboy football and international-level touch football, he made a significant contribution across both codes. ... See MoreSee Less

NSWRL Referees Association

1 day ago

Continuing with our daily series: Behind the Whistle!

Today we recognise the outstanding refereeing career of Adam Devcich, a highly accomplished NRL referee who represented the North Sydney Referees Association.

Adam was graded to the NSW Rugby League Referees Association in 2004 as graded member #898, progressing through the refereeing ranks before establishing himself as a regular NRL match official.

His early achievements included receiving the North Sydney Referees Association's prestigious Erle Carroll Memorial Trophy in 2000, 2002 and 2003, recognising his performances in the local refereeing ranks.

Adam's first involvement in the NRL came as a touch judge in 2007, beginning a top-grade career that would span a decade. His NRL refereeing debut came in Round 24 of 2009, when the New Zealand Warriors played the Canberra Raiders at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on 23 August. It marked the beginning of a successful first-grade refereeing career that would see Adam take charge of 131 NRL premiership matches.

Over the following seasons, Adam became a regular appointment in the NRL, particularly between 2011 and 2015, when he consistently officiated more than 20 first-grade matches per season.

His achievements also extended to representative rugby league. Adam was appointed to referee two City vs Country matches and an Australian Prime Minister's XIII match.

Adam's final NRL refereeing appearance came in Round 23 of 2016, when the Newcastle Knights played the Penrith Panthers at Hunter Stadium on 14 August, bringing to a close a first-grade refereeing career spanning eight seasons.

From his early achievements in the North Sydney refereeing ranks to his representative appointments and decade-long involvement in the NRL, Adam demonstrated the dedication, professionalism and commitment required to succeed at the highest level.

His achievements remain an important part of the history of the North Sydney and NSW Rugby League Referees Associations.

#BehindTheWhistle #AdamDevcich #RugbyLeagueReferees #NRLReferees #NorthSydneyReferees #NSWRLRA #TouchJudge #RugbyLeagueHistory ... See MoreSee Less

NSWRL Referees Association

2 days ago

Continuing with our new daily series: Behind the Whistle!

Today we celebrate Tom Glazebrook, graded member #175 of the NSW Rugby League Referees’ Association—a man who experienced first-grade rugby league as both a player and a match official.

Before taking up the whistle and touch judge’s flag, Glazebrook was a first-grade player for Eastern Suburbs. Playing primarily as a lock or forward, he made seven first-grade appearances during the 1918 season.

He also scored a first-grade try in Eastern Suburbs’ 20–15 victory over Newtown at the Agricultural Ground on 22 June 1918. His playing record also includes Eastern Suburbs’ 1909 Reserve Grade premiership season.

After his playing days, Glazebrook began a distinguished career with the NSW Rugby League Referees’ Association. Although best remembered as a touch judge, he also received appointments as a referee.

His 1925 refereeing appointments included Reserve Grade and the NSW versus Queensland Schools Third Interstate Test.

🚩 FIRST-GRADE TOUCH-JUDGING CAREER

Glazebrook officiated in 58 NSWRFL first-grade matches between 1925 and 1935.

His first first-grade appointment came in:

📅 Round 4, 1925
🏉 Newtown v University
📍 Marrickville Oval

His final first-grade appointment was:

📅 Round 17, 1935
🏉 Eastern Suburbs v South Sydney
📍 Sydney Cricket Ground

One surviving match record also lists Glazebrook as a touch judge for a South Sydney versus Eastern Suburbs premiership match in 1926—placing him on the touchline for a contest involving his former club.

🌏 REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTMENTS

Glazebrook’s career included several major representative honours:

• Australia v England Tests – 2 (1928)
• NSW v England tour match – 1 (1928)
• Interstate match – 1 (1930)
• Sydney Combined v Country Combined – 2 (1933 and 1934)

From representing Eastern Suburbs as a first-grade player to officiating Test and representative rugby league, Tom Glazebrook enjoyed a remarkable connection with the game.

His career is a wonderful reminder that many officials brought valuable playing experience with them when they exchanged the football for a whistle or touch judge’s flag. ... See MoreSee Less