Tom Cambourn Earns NRL Debut – Referee #171
The Jericho Group Parramatta Referees are proud to congratulate Tom Cambourn on his NRL debut as Match Official #171 in the Round 17 clash between Parramatta Eels and South Sydney Rabbitohs on Thursday night.
Tom's appointment is the culmination of more than a decade of dedication, consistency and outstanding service to rugby league officiating.
After beginning his refereeing journey with the Balmain District Rugby League Referees Association, Tom joined the Parramatta Referees Association in 2014 after returning from Dubbo. Since then, he has steadily built an impressive résumé through hard work and exceptional performances across all levels of the game.
Some of Tom's career highlights include:
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Touch Judge in the 2014 A Grade Division 1 Grand Final.
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Winner of the prestigious Michael Ryan Award in 2017.
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Graded into the NSWRL High Performance Squad in 2017 as Member #1002 after refereeing the 2017 Harold Matthews Cup Grand Final.
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Refereed the NSW Under 18 Women's State of Origin between NSW and Queensland at North Sydney in 2019.
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Made his NSW Cup refereeing debut in 2020 before the COVID-19 interruption.
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Touch Judge for the 2022 Sydney Shield Grand Final.
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Touch Judge in the last three NSW Cup Grand Finals.
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Recipient of the 2025 Doug Wintin Award, recognising not only his excellence on the field but also the quality of person he is within the refereeing community.
Across his graded career, Tom has officiated 293 matches, including 126 NSW Cup games, consistently demonstrating the professionalism, composure and game management required at the highest levels. His journey has been one of persistence, continual improvement and unwavering commitment to the craft of refereeing.
Those who have worked alongside Tom know that this achievement is about far more than his on-field performances. He is widely respected for his humility, work ethic, willingness to support fellow officials and the positive influence he has on everyone around him.
His experiences throughout the pathways have ensured he is more than ready to step onto the biggest stage, and becoming NRL Touch Judge #171 is a richly deserved milestone.
From everyone at the Parramatta Referees Association, and the wider refereeing community, congratulations Tom on this outstanding achievement. We wish you every success in your NRL debut on Thursday night and look forward to seeing the next chapter of your refereeing career unfold.
