Without fear or favour: The WRFU club finals referees
By Jared Smith
WRFU Finals day is upon us, as Spriggens Park and Cooks Gardens will play host to three likely exciting and unpredictable matches, which will stoke the passions of players and their supporters alike.
But none of those games would be possible without the crucial yet often maligned men in the middle.
It is the highlight of a WRFU referee’s season to be asked to take the whistle on finals day, a solemn vow made to officiate the games to the best of their ability, ideally by being invisible, but knowing they may be called upon to make the decision that will prove decisive.
In the seven seasons the Tasman Tanning Premier final has been played at Cooks Gardens, only one of those matches was a blowout – all the others being thrillers that went down to the wire.
Officials like Ben Lourie, Kawena Tihema, Aaron Conlon and Sean Fergusson have all been in the furnace and, by-and-large, performed with aplomb in a role that is often thankless and subject to scorn from at least half of the sideline watching.
Last weekend for the club semifinals across three divisions, 17 officials filled 23 roles from Waverley to Taihape, Ohakune, Hunterville and Whanganui.
Whanganui Rugby Referees Association facilitator Barry Banks recalled when he refereed in South Africa, he never had to travel more than 10km for games – whereas these local volunteers often drive ten times that.
To get a final is reward for that perseverance.
In the case of Premier final referee Noah Viliamu, you can add over a decade of that service.
The usually reserved Viliamu brought the house down at the Taihape clubrooms last Saturday with a delightful after-match speech, which Banks felt reflected his personal growth over this last season.
“That’s unusual for him, because I didn’t see him as that type of guy.
“But refereeing, he’s transformed.
“He really wanted to be a finals referee for a while now. Before, he’s worked hard, but he hasn’t worked that hard.”
Viliamu was told at the start of the season that if he wanted the big game, he had to get match fit and listen to doyen former referee Murray O’Hara, who mentors the officials.
“I said, ‘Sean [Fergusson] and Ben [Lourie] are thinking of not refereeing, so we need someone to put his hand up’,” said Banks.
“Everything that Murray says to him he takes on board and focuses on getting it right next time.
“The finals, we’ve had some fantastic refs. It’s something that the referees really look forward to.”
Viliamu’s appointment brought a rush of emotion for the veteran.
“He was humble, so thankful, and is grasping the moment,” said Banks.
“We just need someone in the middle whose calm, knows the rules and does it clearly and calmly as possible.”
The Senior Division 1 final that will precede the Premier game will be no less intense, and the man for the moment will be expat Australian Robbie Clark – a hands-on individual who referees all levels and coaches teams both at Whanganui Collegiate and the Under 14 representative side.
Clark and Viliamu have two unique styles – the latter wanting to set clear structure while the former favours advantage to try to keep the match flowing.
“Robbie is going to be fantastic there. He loves giving back,” said Banks.
“His favourite quote is ‘let it breath’.”
It was Clark who was called upon for the big moment in the semifinals – ruling Settler’s Honey Ngamatapouri had not scored on fulltime in their six point defeat to Waverley Harvesting Border.
Tellingly, Clark made his call after consultation with linesmen Barry Touzel, which reflects how passionate Clark has been about insuring there are Assistant Referees (AR’s) at all major games, rather than simple club touch judges
“The ‘team of three’ is what Robbie calls it.”
And covering the Senior Division 2 final at Spriggens Park, in just his second season, will be Scott Dowman, the former Marist player with Premier and Senior experience.
Having been one of those players that would grumble about certain calls, Banks says Dowman’s contention now is all coaches, managers and supporters who complain should walk just half a mile in a referee’s shoes.
“He sort of feels like a sheep in woof’s clothing, coming to the meetings.
“I’ve got no doubt in 3-4 years time, he will be one of our top referees.”
Look out for City College teenager Lachlan Fisher stepping up as one of the AR’s in the Division 2 playoff.
The games kickoff at 12pm, 12.35pm, and 2.35pm.
Club Finals – Saturday July 16th
