Matt Cecchin
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Matt Cecchin is an Australian rugby league referee in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has officiated at the 2011 Four Nations and a match during the 2012 State of Origin series.
He has been a National Rugby League referee since 2001.
Referee career
Cecchin began his career by controlling Metro Cup matches.[2] He made his first grade debut when he took over from an injured Steve Clark at halftime of a New Zealand Warriors and Northern Eagles match on 1 June 2001.[3] His first full first grade match was on 14 July 2001, when he controlled a match between the Wests Tigers and North Queensland. He controlled 22 matches between 2001 and 2004.[1] In 2003, he was told the only way he would remain an official was to become a touch judge.[2]
Cecchin returned to first grade in 2008 and has controlled finals matches since 2009.[1] He controlled the 2011 NRL Grand Final alongside Tony Archer.[4]
He was awarded his second Grand Final appointed 2016 NRL Grand Final as lead referee along with assistant Ben Cummins. He was appointed lead referee for Game I of the 2017 State of Origin series.
International career
Cecchin was appointed to control the 2010 City vs Country Origin match and refereed in the 2011 Four Nations. He controlled one match during the 2012 State of Origin series.[1]
Personal life
Cecchin's father played reserve grade for the Newtown Jets.[4]
In 2012, Cecchin revealed he was gay, becoming the first NRL official or player since Ian Roberts in 1995 to declare that he is gay.[4]
Cecchin has revealed having panic attacks before a match. He is a mental health ambassador for rugby league.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Matt Cecchin rugbyleagueproject.org
- 1 2 This Sporting Life: Matt Cecchin smh.com.au, 2 October 2011
- ↑ Jessup, Peter (2 June 2001). "Rugby League: Warriors shine at the Death". Retrieved 7 April 2017 – via New Zealand Herald.
- 1 2 3 NRL referee Matt Cecchin says being gay no reason to live in fear dailytelegraph.com.au, 11 February 2012
- ↑ Webster, Andrew (7 April 2017). "'I was going to fake an injury': NRL referee Matt Cecchin opens up about mental health". Retrieved 7 April 2017 – via The Sydney Morning Herald.