Local Youth Referees Take Regionals By Storm

Townsville youth referees Lachlan Carey, Jack Driehuis, Bailey Sloman, and Makenzie Weier have taken the 2019 North Queensland Championships by storm, with three of the four achieving accreditation upgrades at the weekend's event.
Townsville youth referees Bailey Sloman (left), Makenzie Weier (centre-right), and Lachlan Carey (right), accompanied by TJT Director Kerrod Hall (centre-left) | Photo: Joann Lukins

All four officials performed strongly over the weekend, receiving positive feedback from both the regional referee coaching panel and the region's senior referees.

Driehuis, the nephew of the region's leading referee, Michael Littlefield, followed in his uncle's footsteps and impressed the referees panel with his performances over the weekend, earning him an invite to attend the Level Two course to be held later in the year.

For Weier, who's also developing a strong career as a rugby league referee, it's the culmination of 18 months hard work as she recovered from injury and several knock-backs to finally achieve her Level Three accreditation. She has shown that hard work, determination, and resilience really do pay off, and sets a great example for the region's up-and-coming referees.

Carey and Sloman, both picking up their Level Four accreditation, were also appointed to control the 18 Boys Grand Final alongside Mackay's Andrew Tinney, earning the three a position in the regional referee rankings in the process.

Carey further capped off the weekend by being named the "Most Promising Referee" by the North Queensland referees coaching panel.