Lead referee Matt Cecchin has been told to come back to the game after he controversially decided to quit the NRL for the Super League.
The newly appointed NRL head of elite football operations, Graham Annesley, has confirmed that he has tried to get Cecchin to stay in the NRL.
This story comes after referee boss Tony Archer was dumped and given a role in game development.
Former grand final and State of Origin referee, Annesley, has started to fix the current dysfunctional refereeing roster as the shake up needs to continue according to legend Bill Harrigan.
“He is a very experienced man and will shake things up. And it needs it," Harrigan said when asked about Annesley.
“You know why. I have been very vocal about it for how long.”
Harrigan also liked the idea of trying to persuade Cecchin to come back.
“He was the best referee running around,” Harrigan said.
“The number one referee this year was squeezed out.”
It is believed that Cecchin did not commit about coming back to the NRL. With no official deadline has been handed down, Cecchin needs to decide his future as soon as possible since all other referees have been training.
Personal differences with Archer and senior refereeing manager, Bernard Sutton, saw Cecchin quit but reports say that if Archer and Sutton's power and influence is no longer, he would come back.
This has now happened.
A source close to Cecchin has stated that the meetings between Cecchin and Anneslay have been "amicable".
“Matt was asked to reconsider and that the door was open,” the source said.
“There wasn’t a firm answer but there wasn’t a definite no either.”
The NRL will now wait for Cecchin's decision as there are reports saying that he has made up his mind and will be heading to England to referee the Super League.
Cecchin was overlooked by Gerard Sutton and Ashley Klein for the big games last season. This includes State of Origin and the NRL Grand Final despite being known as the leagues premier referee.
Cecchin also received death threats for a dubious call he made in the World Cup semi final last year between England and Tonga.
Will Cecchin stay or should he start a new chapter in his life?
Comments are closed.