Orange whistleblower Billy Greatbatch labelled his appointment in Sunday’s Group 10 premier league grand final “the perfect way to cap off a massive year”.
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Just days after being named Group 10 referee of the year Greatbatch was appointed to this year’s big dance, an honour that comes after making his National Youth Competition and Intrust Super Premiership NSW debuts, and controlling the Festival of World Cups final too.
They’re just a couple of examples, Greatbatch’s list of 2017 honours could go for days.
“It’s been a big year, that’s for sure,” he said.
“It was a real honour to win the referee of the year award, I really wasn’t expecting that. The grand final appointment, again it’s a real honour.
“It’s something I’ve been working toward for quite a while, another notch on the belt.”
Greatbatch is the first Orange referee to control Group 10’s biggest game since Peter Ryan in 1999.
“It’s been a while, a long time,” Greatbatch said.
“That’s a nice little aspect of it.”
A player’s focus leading into a big game is always on ensuring they’re ready to go, physically and mentally.
A referee’s no different in that regard, Greatbatch said the officials are prone to game day nerves just like players are too.
“There’s nothing quite like a game day, especially in a big one, those nerves are good,” Greatbatch said.
“We have certain things we’ll be focusing on in the game, but more than anything I just hope the rest of the team and I can contributed to a really excellent, exciting game of rugby league.”
Greatbatch is assisted by Nick Lander and Nathan Blanchard on the sidelines, while Dale Harding and Chris Redding will control the in-goals.
It’s the same team that controlled last week’s preliminary final between Oberon and Bathurst Panthers, a clash Greatbatch labelled “just a great game of footy”.
“And at the end of the day, I’ve just been granted the best seat in the house to another huge game, so I really can’t wait,” Greatbatch said.
Kick-off in Sunday's premier league decider is at 3pm.
Harding has been appointed to first division, Redding will watch over under 18s and Blanchard will control league tag.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
