Aug 3rd, 2018

Aug 3rd, 2018

Death threats and the changing nature of refereeing in the NRL will force seasoned official Matt Cecchin to hang up his whistle at the end of the season.

Cecchin,44, will adjudicate his 300th NRL game this weekend when Canberra travels to Penrith to play the Panthers.

Cecchin told Fairfax Media he doesn’t have the desire to referee in the NRL, especially after a tough couple of seasons.

The whistle blower said his treatment during last year’s World Cup was probably his worst moment and triggered thoughts of quitting.

During the semi-final clash between Tonga and New Zealand, Andrew Fifita lost the ball while trying to score in the dying minutes of the clash.

(AAP)

Laying the law down. (AAP)

Cecchin correctly disallowed the try but copped heavy backlash from fans, who sent him and his family death threats on social media.

It got so bad, the Australian Federal Police had to pick up Cecchin from the airport and keep guard of his family home.

“The reality is that after that game, and for the first chunk of this year with all the noise that’s been out there, it’s been tough. Really, really tough.”

Cecchin said it was difficult dealing with the noise surrounding the refereeing in the NRL, especially since he wanted to referee one way and was directed to officiate another.

“I need a long break. Bagging the refs — and even though a lot of the press has been complimentary about me, especially after Origin I — it made me feel like a leper with the squad.

“I was just trying to do the best I could in an environment that was new to me. Because of my position in the squad, I had to conform because I didn’t want to be the outlier.

(AAP)

Cecchin blows off Inglis.

“I could’ve easily said, ‘No, I want to referee the way I’ve always wanted and the way I’ve been successful’. But it would be unfair on the rest of the squad to not referee consistently.

“To do that, it was to my own personal detriment but I’ve got no regrets because we stayed together and stuck close.”

The referee also said dealing the criticism that comes with the job was much harder when away from the refereeing group.

“I’ve had eight different refs coaches. I’ve had dramas and barneys with all of them.

"That’s the type of person I am. But those conversations have to be kept private. If either one of us is fearful of that getting out, people don’t talk.

"When they don’t talk, you can’t progress. You talk about morale. There’s no problem at all.

"The noise gets to you when you aren’t there. And that’s when it affects your family and relationships.”