Five of North Queensland’s top touch referees were given a rare opportunity to officiate at the 2013 New South Wales Touch Association State Cup in December, proving that referees from the region can match it with the best referees from one of the country’s strongest states.
On Thursday December 5, 2013, five North Queensland Referees joined NQ Referees Director - Joe Lo Grande - in attending the 2013 New South Wales Touch Association's State Cup in Port Macquarie, NSW.
Denise Weier, Renee Janes, Fiona Quinn, Michael Littlefield and Andrew Watkins were given the chance to referee alongside some of the country's best referees, based in NSW, at the annual staple on the touch football calendar.
One of the largest sporting events in the southern hemisphere, the event regularly plays host to over 230 teams and 250 referees, and is considered to be one of the highest standard touch events in the country.
The event served as a great test for the five attending NQ referees, who are all eligible for upgrade at the upcoming National Touch League in March, 2014, by providing them with exposure to a higher standard of games; something not always available at their local level.
While the five referees were giving their all on the field, NQ Referees Director Joe Lo Grande joined fellow National Referee Panel members on the event's Referee Coaching Panel to provide feedback and assessment to the 250+ referees in attendance.
"A number of National Referee Panel members were there [at the event] and our referees definitely impressed them with their performances," Lo Grande said.
"The event now provides these referees with a springboard into the NTL. They received some great feedback and now have enough time to make the changes to their game so that, come the NTL, they'll achieve their goals."
The North Queensland Touch Association would like to congratulate the group on their efforts and wish them all the best at the 2014 National Touch League in March, where they are sure to impress.
The NQTA would also like to offer thanks to the NSW Touch Association for allowing the group to attend and extend thanks to the NSW Referees Panel for the valuable coaching and feedback given to the region's referees.