Recognising Our Best: 2026 McCall Awards Night
Parramatta Referees gathered for the premier event on our annual calendar, as over 160 members, partners, families, and distinguished guests came together at Wenty Leagues for the 2026 McCall Awards Night.
Welcomed into the spacious Compass Bar for pre-event drinks and photographs, guests stepped into an atmosphere of celebration before transitioning into the Blaxland Room, which was transformed with vibrant in-house and installed ambient lighting, custom installations, and an elegant table setup. Master of Ceremonies duties were kept seamlessly in motion by the delightful Shikye Alyce Smith, while live musical performances from Natalie Carboni, Paul Winn, and Bruno Gerhard on the saxophone brought a sophisticated and lively soundtrack to the evening. Adding to the night’s festive touches was a chocolate fountain display brimming with sweet treats, custom engraved medals for all attending referees and coaches in recognition of their season-long commitment, and personalised Parramatta Referees gym towels presented as keepsakes for every guest.
The event welcomed a stellar lineup of special guests, emphasising the strong bonds between our Association, civic leaders, and the broader rugby league landscape. Among those in attendance were Federal Member for Parramatta Dr Andrew Charlton MP, State Member for Parramatta Donna Davis MP, City of Parramatta Councillor Anthony Ellard, and New South Wales Rugby League Chief Executive David Trodden. We were equally privileged to host dedicated commercial and community partners, including Stephen Bull from the PARRA Group, Rebecca Gauci from Wenty Leagues, David Succar from Jericho Group, Frank and Tina Micali from Franky & Co, and Bernard Biala from Biala Tax. Roving throughout the room, the crew from SportsShed TV captured live interviews and behind-the-scenes content with guests and award recipients, while renowned mentalist Xavier Crow returned to the stage to steal the show with an astonishing performance that left the audience spellbound.
Central to the evening was a deeply moving tribute paid to the late Ian McCall, Life Member #75, who passed away earlier this year and whose family legacy lives on through the naming of our annual Awards Night. The spirit of dedicated service was highlighted again during the formal proceedings as Robert Morey was officially welcomed as Life Member #74 of Parramatta Referees, marking an extraordinary milestone in his decades of commitment to our Association. Special milestone recognitions were also bestowed upon Ken McNaught for a remarkable 20 years of active service following his Life Membership grading, Tom Cambourn for achieving his NRL Debut as Match Official #171, and Liam O’Brien for receiving his NSW High Performance Grading as Graded Member #1046.
Reflecting on the success of the night and the season as a whole, Association Chair Mat Picone shared his gratitude for the entire Parramatta Referees community: "It was a genuine pleasure welcoming so many of our members, parents, partners, and distinguished guests to celebrate the 2026 McCall Awards Night. Seeing our members spotlighted and showcasing the achievements of our Association in such an energetic and engaging environment was a fantastic way to conclude the year. Congratulations to all our award winners, and thank you to every referee, coach, family, and sponsor whose dedication made the 2026 season such a success."
As we look forward to building on this momentum in 2027, Parramatta Referees extends its sincere appreciation to all who contributed to making this year’s McCall Awards Night an unforgettable celebration.
2026 Award Recipients
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Rookie of the Year: Dexter Guidice & Ella McDonald
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Junior Referee of the Year: Marcus Rowe
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Junior Touch Judge of the Year: Adam Allouche
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Senior Touch Judge of the Year: Jazion Semeatu
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Junior Most Improved of the Year: Nicolas Picone
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Senior Most Improved of the Year: Jackson Lamont
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Ernie Bull Trainer of the Year: Lucas Harper
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Parramatta Junior Representative Referee of the Year: Bailey Clark
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Beyond Bank Emerging Squad Official of the Year: Lachlan Bradley
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Kasey Badger Female Referee of the Year: Maisy Macarthur
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Kevin Jeffes Coach of the Year: Ken McNaught
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Jack Argent Patron’s Trophy: Bailey Clark
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PARRA Decision of the Year: Zane Alkhatib
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Referees’ Referee Medal: Jazion Semeatu
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Darkie McCall Medal: Allan Doohan
