15/09/2026
Referee development in Townsville did not begin in 2026.
This photo from the weekend is a pretty good example of why.
Standing in the middle of the A Grade Grand Final was Sam Nosworthy, officiating his first A Grade Grand Final.
Sam has come through the TDRLRA pathway from junior football, into international-age competitions, State Carnivals, junior representative football, senior Rugby League and now an A Grade Grand Final.
That journey didn’t happen overnight.
It took years of coaching, mentoring, appointments, support and opportunity.
And that is what referee development is all about.
For many years, the Townsville & District Rugby League Referees Association has provided a pathway for match officials from junior football through to senior Rugby League, representative carnivals, statewide competitions and higher honours.
In 2024, our Association had 126 registered members and officiated more than 2,400 games, with members appointed to multiple representative Grand Finals, achieving A Grade debuts and progressing into higher-level competitions.
That success continued in 2025, with thousands of games officiated, further A Grade debuts, NRLW and HPC representation and continued Grand Final appointments across junior carnivals.
Season 2026 started a little slower than usual due to circumstances outside the control of our members.
But the response from our Executive, coaches and members has been outstanding.
Once again this year, TDRLRA has supplied match officials to regional junior carnivals throughout North Queensland.
At every regional carnival attended by our Association this season, a TDRLRA member was appointed to referee a Grand Final.
When other districts have needed support, our members have also travelled to assist competitions across the Cape, North West, Far North and Western Queensland.
We are incredibly proud of that.
Recruitment is important.
But recruitment is only the beginning.
Completing a referee course is recruitment.
Supporting someone from their first junior game, through representative football, senior grades and eventually into an A Grade Grand Final is development.
That takes time.
It takes coaching.
It takes mentoring.
It takes culture.
And it takes people who are prepared to invest in referees over many years.
Our Association has long focused on improving culture, recruitment and retention, developing excellence and creating a sustainable pathway for match officials.
We welcome new ideas and anything that encourages more people to become involved in refereeing.
But we are also incredibly proud of the pathway that already exists and of the generations of volunteers, coaches and match officials who have helped build it.
This weekend was another example of why that pathway matters.
Congratulations Sam.
From junior referee to A Grade Grand Final Referee.
We couldn’t be prouder.
And somewhere in our current junior group is the next Sam Nosworthy.
Our job is to make sure they get the same opportunity.
💙🤍 Proudly TDRLRA.
