The highs and lows of a referee’s lot

Press, 1 July 1983, Page 10

The highs and lows of a referee’s lot

By

JOHN COFFEY

It has not taken Robin Whitfield, the leading rugby league referee in Britain, long to experience the brickbats and bouquets of his profession. Mr Whitfield, aged 39, impressed with his display in the first test between Australia and New Zealand at Auckland and is to officiate in the return match at Brisbane on July 9. The test at Carlaw Park was only Mr Whitfield’s third, and he was highly praised by the opposing coaches — even if subsequent viewing of television replays had the Kiwi coach, Graham Lowe, changing his stance on one particular ruling.

An early flurry of penalties might have had some members of both camps grumbling, but Mr Whitfield’s quickness to establish his authority contributed much to a game that flowed more frequently than had been expected. Afterwards, the Australian coach, Arthur Beetson, said that he was more than satisfied with Mr Whitfield’s interpretations. His comments were in direct contrast to the criticism levelled at Mr Whitfield when he had made his test debut in the series between Australia and France late last year.

Mr Beetson’s predecessor, the usually quietly-spoken Frank Stanton, said after the second of those tests at Narbonne: “He (Mr Whitfield) was not good enough.” Mr Stanton was still fuming from a 23-4 penalty count against the Kangaroos. Because of the reports of Mr Stanton and the Australian captain, Max Krilich, there was widespread alarm across the Tasman when Mr Whitfield was appointed by the New Zealand Rugby League for the test at Auckland.

But Australian officials were obviously happy with Mr Whitfield’s methods — and no doubt the 17-11 penalty advantage to the Kangaroos. The Englishman had hardly dried off from his shower before he was invited to stay for the return game in Brisbane. More congratulations came from an unexpected source. A group of rugby union referees were staying in the same hotel as Mr Whitfield while attending a seminar in Auckland. They adjourned their meeting to watch the rugby league telecast and later that evening some sought Mr Whit-

field out to compliment him on the clarity of his rulings and general manner. Mr Whitfield showed no signs of his relative inexperience of the code’s new laws, which have not yet been introduced in Britain. His only preparation was a couple of lower-grade fixtures in Auckland. He spoke to both teams before the test, explaining his requirements. Afterwards, he said that the Australians were much faster to learn that he

would allow no transgressions of the off-side rules. The tests at Auckland and

Brisbane have capped a memorable few months for Mr Whitfield. He also controlled his first Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium this year, and was the first referee to make use of the sin-bin in British rugby league’s most important fixture. Mr Whitfield’s career in the code has virtually turned a full cycle. Not too many years ago, he was a professional with the formidable Widnes club, and was sent from the field seven times.

It was after Mr Whitfield incurred a three-month suspension as a result of his seventh dismissal that he was persuaded by a former test referee, the late Mick Naughton, to take up the whistle. He received his grade two certificate in 1979-80, was promoted to grade one the next season, and was Britain’s choice when the N.Z.R.L. requested nominations for the present series.

While in Auckland, Mr Whitfield said that one of the highlights of his playing days was his appearance for Widnes against the 1965 Kiwis. As Widnes’s fullback, he kicked the only goal in his side’s 8-3 victory.