HOSTING 30 teams and more than 800 players for a 12-hour footy-fest can’t be achieved without one important element – the referee.

Sourcing enough referees to cover all games at last weekend’s ABCARE Western Challenge knock-out at Boughton Oval in Moree was a challenge in itself for event organisers, led by Moree Boars club president, Todd Mitchell.

The blokes all spectators love to hate at some point of a game of rugby league play crucial roles to ensure matches are fair, safe and played within the rules – and that’s exactly what Steve Pleffer and his big squad of referees achieved at the weekend.

Bingara-based Pleffer, a rugby league ref from the Group 4 Referees’ Association, said referees from Groups 4, 19 and 21, as well as the Newcastle region, signed on for the third instalment of the Western Challenge.

“The first couple of years we had a few teething problems trying to get enough people, but this year we came here with 21 referees, including two from Newcastle, which is really good,” Pleffer said.

“It’s a good day, and a really good opportunity for the blokes from Newcastle who don’t get to referee seniors much.

“The knock-out is a great concept. It starts the season and gives players the chance to get a few miles in their legs,” he said.

Pleffer said all games on Saturday, played in 30-minute halves, were of the highest standard.

“The quality of games was absolutely exceptional, with four or five being decided by only two points,” Pleffer said.

“And the quality is getting better, which is really good.”

Pleffer said sportsmanship was showcased across three ovals, with camaraderie and a mates-against-mates mindset unmistakably evident.

Referees from Groups 4 and 21, as well as the Newcastle region, signed on for the third instalment of the Western Challenge knock-out in Moree last weekend.

“There’s been great sportsmanship,” Pleffer said.

“All these players are going out there to try and tackle each other as hard as they can, but they’re always shaking hands afterwards.

“They’re all mates. Some of them play together in club land, but play against each other in knock-outs like this. They’re playing with their mates, which is good,” he said.

Former top Moree rugby league player, the legendary Bill Hitchins, was on the sidelines watching games and helping officials on Saturday.

He agreed with Pleffer’s thoughts about the knock-out competition that draws thousands of visitors to Moree.

“A knock-out like this is good for all the blokes who want to have a game pre-season – it’s a good pipe-opener,” Hitchins said.

“We called them trials when I played – we used to organise games against blokes we’d be playing against in the competition later in the season.”

Hitchins said the Western Challenge concept is a boon for Moree.

“This means everything to Moree, and these games are bloody unreal to watch, there’s no doubt about that,” Hitchins said.

“The speed of some of these young blokes is incredible, and the girls are good to watch, too.

“It takes a lot of organising to put on something like this, and I think rugby league in Moree would be lost without blokes like Toddy Mitchell and his team, but somehow they do it,” he said.