Page 10 - League Lens - Feb 2018
P. 10
WORLD STAGE WITH THE WHISTLE
In the middle of a tournament “It was all official, even the In addition to the thrill of
full of Auckland toss, it was in front of refereeing on the world stage,
representatives in playing cameras, there was all these the tournament also offered a
strips, Antoinette Watts foreign things going on that I glimpse of life as a
proudly flew the flag for match wasn’t used to, but I tried not professional match official,
officials across the region, and to think about it all too much. with the squad required to
country, at the 2017 Women’s take part in intensive training
Rugby League World Cup. and analysis sessions on free
“As soon as I blew the whistle, days.
and this happens to me every
The only New Zealand-based game, once I blow the whistle I With it came the opportunity
match official selected to to learn from some of the
referee a game at either the NRL’s best and most-
men’s or women’s tournament, “I was honoured to be experienced whistle blowers,
Watts was in charge of out there representing with Watts’ first match being
Australia’s opening match New Zealand.” assessed by veteran Gavin
against the Cook Islands. Reynolds.
feel like I am in my zone and “I have been doing sidelines
“There was huge hype. You’re you just focus on the game. for the NSW Cup and the U-20
in Australia, you’re about to competitions, but that is quite
referee their team, the different to being selected for
Jillaroos, so it was quite nerve- “To get a middle, I was a World Cup,” Watts said.
wracking,” Watts said. honoured to be out there
representing New Zealand. It
was a massive thing.”
