Referee shortage forces cancellation

BY ALF WILSON

A shortage of rugby league referees to control senior games in the Torres Strait and NPA forced the cancellation of matches in the NPARL competition in Bamaga last week.

Long-time referee Rod “Hairy” McCrae, who has been either a field referee or touch judge at Torres Strait, NPA and Cape York carnivals and competitions since 1989, told the Torres News the shortage affected many areas.

“It costs comp organisers a lot to get referees from Cairns to the Torres Strait or Bamaga for matches,” he said.

The veteran said at the recent Island of Origin, nine refs or touch judges had come from Cairns.

“There were also three referees from Sydney,” he said.

He said the only cost-effective answer was to have trained and qualified local referees.

“Some are reluctant to be referees, they do a good job but cop criticism in the week after games from fans of clubs,” he said.

However he said having local referees was not ‘mission impossible’.

“I was up at the Battle of the Gulf competition at Normanton recently and they had very good local referees there,” he said.

On a positive note, it was understood local referees would be ready to officiate at the Zenadth Kes Rugby League competition on Waiben when it kicks off.

The four competing clubs registered by the cutoff date of 30 June were premiers Roosters, Suburbs, Mulga Tigers and Pioneer Knights.

James Frazer, George Reuben, Konsagan Nona and Jaffa Cook were amongst their best.

Second side, Meuram, won $10,000 prize money for defeating Kaanju from Cape York in the plate final.

Organised by Raoul Miller, the team included boys living on Palm with Erub descent.

They incuded Mislam Sam jnr, son of Mayor Mislam Sam snr, Arona Miller, Raoul himself, and other members of the Sam family.

An Erub resident, who chose not to be named, said most of the island watched as the day unfolded.

“Many on Erub watched it from that link on their home televisions and it was exciting and good football,” he said.

“We are proud of the teams.”

Commentators on the livestream were full of praise for Mr Bounghi, who said families from across Queensland were there.

“The event is in honour of our past elders who were forcibly removed from the island never to return to their homelands,” Mr Bounghi said.

Mr Bounghi was a genuine ‘Jack of all Trades’ on the day, and was even called up to referee the finals games.

Bagaarrmugu, who won $35,000 for their effort, included quality footballers such as Clinton and Darryl Pearson along with Dwayne Bowen.

Carnival rules stipulated teams entered had to have players with connections to the island through more than 40 different tribal groups who were forced to live there in generations past.

The competition was one of several highlights of Palm Island’s NAIDOC celebrations.

Over the week sports fans on Palm and visitors also enjoyed a boxing tournament and a hotly contested netball competition.