Page 11 - League Lens - Feb 2018
P. 11
“You would spend maybe two, “Antoinette displays what
three or four hours after your you can do through the
game doing analysis, watching Auckland referees
your game, doing your own pathway, having graduated
work, group work and then through the various levels
with your assessor the next to make it to the world
day. stage,” Jelicich said.
“We got a lot of time with the “Her development over the
NRL officials, and we had a last few years has seen
couple of their up-and-coming Antoinette become one of
referees there, so people were the leading referees in the
able to talk to referees at that SAS College Rugby League
level and have them help with competition, and the
assessments and analysis. chance to referee at the
Women’s World Cup, and
work alongside other top
“We got a lot of opportunities referees from around the
to go through games, get tips globe, will only help that.
and points on how to improve.
“She is also a great role
“There was always something model for other young
going on.”
female referees, who can
now see the results which
Other New Zealand match can be achieved if they
officials to attend the men’s dedicate themselves to
tournament were experienced officiating.”
Auckland referee Chris
McMillan, who regularly The 30-year-old now has her
controls SAS Fox Memorial sights set on her next goal “I also want to do some college
Premiership matches, along back on the Auckland scene. comp and get back into that.”
with Australia-based Kiwi NRL
referee Henry Perenara, whose
dad Bernie coached the “Having that experience in the Interested in becoming a
Glenora Bears to the Auckland Auckland competitions and referee in 2018? Click here to
first division title in 2017. training for that all year round learn more about the Auckland
definitely helped me with the Rugby League referee pathway.
women’s games,” Watts said.
Having been refereeing for just
five seasons, Watts has
climbed through the Auckland “Some of those top teams in
ranks in quick fashion, now the college comp, those boys
regularly officiating in are quick, so the pace is fast.
competitions such as the
Crown Lift Trucks Sharman Cup
and SAS College Rugby League. “We are already back training
with the academy which is
good, and one of my big goals
Auckland Rugby League is to get a Fox ‘middle’.
referees development officer
Steve Jelicich said Watts is a
good example of what can be “I have done Sharman and Fox
achieved in a short space of reserves as a middle and I want
time. to push myself this year to do
a Fox middle.
