Parramatta Referees Kick Off 2025 Season with a High-Energy Pre-Season Seminar

The 2025 Pre-Season Seminar Weekend, held on the 1st & 2nd of March at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence, was a massive success, setting the stage for an exciting and challenging year ahead for Parramatta Referees.

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of Parramatta Leagues Club, whose commitment to our referees is truly second to none. Their investment in referee development ensures that our match officials continue to grow, learn, and lead the way in officiating excellence.

Special Guests from the USA

This year, we had the privilege of hosting two special international guests from the USA—Brian Barlow (known as Barlow) and Austin Ardrey (The Runnin’ Ref). Their presence brought unparalleled energy, motivation, and insight, inspiring our referees to elevate their performance for the season ahead.

Across the weekend, Barlow and Austin led engaging, high-energy sessions designed to uplift, motivate, and prepare our squad. Their passion for refereeing was infectious, and by the time the weekend wrapped up, our referees left feeling energised, empowered, and ready for 2025.

We’re also fortunate to have Austin staying for an additional week, working with our PDRLRA Emerging Squad, attending training on March 6, and providing extra education for our officials and trainers. He will also be involved in Week 1 of the Parramatta Junior League trials and key functions throughout his stay.

NSWRL Junior Rep referee Harrison Bayssari shared his thoughts on the weekend:

When asked “What did you think of the weekend with Barlow & Austin?”, Harrison said:

“Barlow brings a real energy to the place. It’s his third season with us, and he never gets boring. The energy he brings each year carries on all season—it’s something we revisit throughout the year, and it’s never forgotten."

"Austin brought so much value for our members. His knowledge and easygoing nature were true highlights of the weekend."

As a Junior Rep referee, Harrison was also asked if he learned anything extra from the experience:

“You never stop learning. It was great to see the bonds between everyone, and it was special to see all the Junior Rep referees turn up and put in effort, even when we were told we didn’t have to. There’s a real sense of team around the place."

"Austin provided me with some really good tips around preparation and post-game recovery that I’ll take into my routine going forward, and Barlow gave me a great lift as I head into the back end of the Junior Reps season.”

A Weekend of Learning, Growth & Bonding

The theme for this year’s seminar was “Officiating Idol”, an innovative and fun way to encourage teamwork, bonding, and leadership.

Our referees formed their own bands/teams, with opportunities to trade and transfer members throughout the weekend. In their spare time, they worked on team performances, preparing for the grand finale—a judging session led by Director of Officiating Ethan Murray and Austin Ardrey. The competition brought out the best in everyone, and the final performances were nothing short of fantastic, showing the incredible connections and camaraderie built over the weekend.

Chairperson Mat Picone reflected on the weekend, saying:

“It was an awesome weekend, and what made it awesome was the members who bought in. Their individual efforts and teamwork inspired us all and bound us together as a team.”

He went on to say:

“The tools that have been given to us are a game-changer.”

Director of Officiating Ethan Murray reflected on the incredible effort from the members:

“It was very special to see the efforts from our members. It really shows how strong the connection is between our referees. They were put to the test, and their commitment could not be questioned.”

He went on to say:

“This is the best bunch of Junior Rep referees we have had. I had told them their focus should be on NSWRL games and reviews first… however, they all turned up and put in.”

A special mention was made for those observing Ramadan, which had just begun over the weekend:

“Without singling out individuals, they know who they are—I had told them we understood and that they didn’t need to partake in the physical sessions. But they were the first to jump into the sessions, and the effort they put in until the very end was fantastic to see.”

One of the most powerful moments of the weekend came during the toughness games on Sunday, when referees had to complete hill runs despite already being physically and mentally exhausted.

Ethan recalled:

“I had told Barlow, ‘Do you have one final run in you up that hill?’ Barlow was stuffed and out on his feet… but without thinking, he started running. Without hesitation, the members followed behind him without even thinking twice.”

“That was a special moment, and when I addressed the group, I highlighted that as the point in the weekend that I knew we had a very special group of members who are there for each other.”

Barlow later shared his perspective:

“I was stuffed. I didn’t think I would make it, but what kept me going up that hill was the Parramatta Referees behind me. I didn’t want to let them down.”

Session Highlights

Over the two-day event, our referees participated in a diverse range of training, fitness, and development workshops, covering all aspects of officiating.

Saturday, 1st March 2025

🔹 Forming of the Bands – Team formations, introductions, and the beginning of the Officiating Idol challenge.

🔹 Training Standards & Expectations – What it takes to become a high-level referee and the standards expected throughout the season.

🔹 Pre-Hab & Injury Prevention – Practical pre-hab exercises with live demonstrations, ensuring referees stay injury-free throughout the season.

🔹 Push Back Theory – A session on establishing credibility and removing resistance to make officiating more effective.

🔹 Physical Session: Pre-Game Warmups – Outdoor running drills and game-day warmup routines for optimal performance.

🔹 HUDL Workshop – Understanding the HUDL review process and what’s expected when reviewing performance.

🔹 Consequence Before Action – Learning to anticipate consequences before making crucial decisions on the field.

🔹 Strength Techniques for Referees – A strength training demo, featuring five key exercises to improve officiating fitness.

🔹 Mental Health Workshop (Gotcha4Life) – An important mental resilience session focused on maintaining well-being under pressure.

🔹 Pool Recovery with Austin Ardrey – A well-earned recovery session, using water therapy to refresh the body.

Sunday, 2nd March 2025

🔹 1.2km Time Trial Testing – Fitness benchmarking to assess and improve performance levels.

🔹 “6 More” Decision-Making Skills – Focused drills on managing 6 more.

🔹 Toughness Games: Pyramid & Hill Runs – A mental and physical endurance test, culminating in a special team moment with Barlow.

🔹 Officiating Idol Finale – The final band performances, showcasing creativity, teamwork, and leadership.

🔹 Final Pool Recovery Session – A refreshing recovery wrap-up to end an action-packed weekend.

Bring on 2025—our team is ready!