Canberra Referees

Congratulations to Oliver Levido on being awarded the Noel Bissett Trophy award at the CRRL Les McIntyre Medal Night.

Named in honour of the late Noel Bissett OAM, a Canberra refereeing legend whose lifelong contribution to rugby league shaped our local game. The Noel Bissett Trophy goes to the season’s most outstanding referee

The award was presented to Ollie by CDRLRA Executive Officer Katherine Nightingale.

Today was the final round of the regular season of the Canberra Raiders Cup.

Once again, we say a huge thank you to our referees for the effort you have put into this season.

We would also like to thank the clubs, team staff, players, and parents who contributed to making the Canberra Raiders Cup season so successful.

As we head into finals please continue to show respect to our officials. They are only human.

On a side note, we think Benji is happy that refereeing in the Canberra winter is officially done and dusted!!!

Photo Credit: Trisha’s Sports Photography

Good luck to all our officials this weekend.

Please see an important message from the CRRL. We thank them for their ongoing support of the CDRLRA.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ChfYueFc7/

This weekend brought the regular juniors season to an end. A huge thank you to our referees for the effort you have put into this season, and especially the parents and carers of our referees for their support and sacrifice!

We would also like to thank the clubs, team staff, players, and parents who contributed to making the junior season so successful.

As we head into finals please continue to show respect to our officials. They are only human.

Photo Credit: Trisha’s Sports Photography

🏉NSW CUP DEBUT ALERT🏉

Huge congratulations to Gage Miles, who steps out for his NSW Cup refereeing debut this Saturday! 🙌

Gage takes the whistle for Canberra Raiders v Parramatta Eels, kicking off at 3pm at Seiffert Oval.

“He has overcome a number of different challenges to reach this point, with the biggest being the six-hour commute to and from Canberra for training and matches,” NSWRL Referees High Performance Manager Stuart R***r explained.

“To earn this opportunity is a real testament to his tenacity and perseverance.”

Get around him on Saturday - let’s show Gage the support he deserves as he takes this next big step in his career!

This weekend, our referees wore black armbands in tribute to Neville Norris — Life Member #9 of the CDRLRA.

A minute’s silence was also held before CRRL First Grade matches, giving our community the chance to pause and reflect on Neville’s extraordinary contribution to rugby league refereeing.

Thank you to the clubs, players and officials who joined us in honouring his memory. Neville leaves behind a legacy that runs through the heart of the CDRLRA and Canberra rugby league as a whole.

Vale Neville Norris 🏉💙

A huge congratulations to Ollie Levido who refereed his 100th First Grade game at Raiders Belconnen today!

Everyone in the CDRLRA knows how incredibly hard Ollie works, both on and off the field, and we are all incredibly proud of his achievement.

Well done Ollie for this amazing milestone!

VALE NEVILLE NORRIS

The Canberra & District Rugby League Referees Association honours the life and extraordinary contribution of Neville Norris — Life Member #9 of the CDRLRA — who passed away on 11 August 2026.

Neville’s impact on rugby league refereeing is immeasurable. Every weekend he could be found at a rugby league ground, refereeing First Grade in Canberra, proudly carrying out his duties as a CRL Representative Referee when appointed, or joyfully officiating kids’ matches. His dedication to the game, to refereeing, and to the people within it never wavered.

Neville shaped generations of referees through his coaching, mentoring and leadership. Many of those he guided went on to officiate at NSWRL, ARL and NRL level — a testament to the knowledge, patience and passion he shared so freely. His work in administration and referee development strengthened our Association for decades, including creating the first CDRLRA Ready Reckoner, a resource that helped referees understand the subtle shifts in the laws of the game from Mini to Mod to International rules.

His knowledge of the Laws of the Game was exceptional. Neville had a rare gift: the ability to explain complex concepts calmly, clearly and in a way that made people feel capable. As Phil Stuart said, he was our “rules guru,” and his background as a teacher made him an extraordinary communicator. He didn’t just teach referees the rules — he taught them confidence, professionalism and pride in their craft.

Neville also served on the Advisory Boards of both the NSWRL Referees Association and CDRLRA, continuing his lifelong commitment to developing referees and strengthening the game he loved.

Beyond rugby league, Neville was the kind of person who quietly made the world better. Jim Mahoney recalls at Downer Public School, where he served as principal for many years, he visited the kindergarten class every week to read them a story. When asked why, he simply said: “It’s important that the kids see the principal — and that I get to know them.” That was Neville. Present. Caring. Humble. Always giving.

During his years as Senior Vice-President (1979-1982) and later President of CDRLRA (1983-1986), Neville was a steady source of advice, encouragement and support. He helped welcome and develop countless referees who went on to become outstanding officials, and he never stopped cheering them on.

We honour Neville’s legacy each year through the Neville Norris Rookie of the Year Award, recognising young referees who embody the dedication, integrity and commitment he lived every day.

CDRLRA is deeply saddened by Neville’s passing. We were incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our Association. His knowledge, friendship, leadership and love for refereeing will continue to influence our community for many years to come.

Our thoughts are with Neville’s family, friends, fellow referees, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing, working alongside or learning from him.

Thank you, Neville — for your service, your wisdom, your kindness and your lasting contribution to rugby league refereeing. Your legacy lives on in every referee you coached, every lesson you taught and every game you helped shape.

Never forgotten.

Congrats to all the referees who have made their debut in a new senior grade over the past few weeks!

Aidan Richardson - Jersey Flegg referee

Thumula Herath - George Tooke Shield referee

Andrew Clark - u19s referee

Chevvy Dolan - Katrina Fanning Shield referee

Oscar Stepanek - Katrina Fanning Shield referee

Benji Erickson - League Tag referee

Another Canberra legend getting a mention on the NSWRL Referees daily Behind the Whistle Series!

Noel had a huge impact on the Canberra association that lasts to this day. Thanks NSWRL Referees for putting this together!

Continuing with our new daily series: Behind the Whistle!
Each day, we’ll shine a spotlight on a referee or touch judge who has helped shape, serve and contribute to the great game of rugby league.

Today we remember and recognise Noel Bissett OAM. Born in 1937, Noel’s rugby league journey began as a player, including time in the lower grades with the North Sydney Bears in the early 1960s. After moving to Canberra in 1965, he played for East Canberra before beginning what would become an outstanding life of service to refereeing and rugby league administration.

Noel became the first Canberra referee to control a first grade NSWRL match, making his first grade debut in Round 24, 1984, when Cronulla played South Sydney at Endeavour Field. Across his refereeing career, he controlled 275 Country first grade matches, including a record 11 local first grade grand finals. He also officiated touring international sides and later served as a video referee, including the 1997 tri-series between New Zealand, NSW and Queensland, as well as a 1999 State of Origin match at Lang Park.

Beyond the field, Noel helped transform refereeing in the region. He created the first referee training manual and introduced structured coaching and training for local officials. In 1999, he became Director of Referees, a role he held for nine years.

His legacy continues through the Noel Bissett Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding local referee, and the Noel Bissett Medal, presented to the controlling referee of the local first grade grand final in the Canberra district. .

A player, referee, video referee, coach, mentor, administrator and life member — Noel Bissett OAM gave more than 50 years of service to rugby league and helped shape the game in Canberra for generations to come.

Who will be featured tomorrow? Stay tuned!