Connor Cooke’s decision to switch from playing to officiating rugby league has more than paid off.
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The up-and-coming referee took charge of a host of matches at the School Sport Australia under-12 rugby league championships last week.
Cooke gave away playing the game after the sport outgrew him, and he never looked back.
“I was too small to play so there was a course that came along at training one day and I took it up,” the Glen Innes High School student.
“I played one more year of footy while I refereed and then I didn’t really want to go up to play under-16s because I would get pummelled so I stuck to refereeing.”
His refereeing took him to the under-11 and under-12 state championships, and from there he was selected as one of country NSW’s representatives to take the reins at the national championships.
He also earned the right to be one of the two sideline officials in the grand final of the tournament.
He “jumped for joy” when he received the call-up for the nationals and said it is a good pathway to him hopefully reaching the highest levels of the sport.
Ellen Dunger
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Am currently involved in endurance horse riding and racing. Always happy to hear news and tips. Contact me via email: ellen.dunger@austcommunitymedia.com.au or phone/ text 0438 259 985 www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Am currently involved in endurance horse riding and racing. Always happy to hear news and tips. Contact me via email: ellen.dunger@austcommunitymedia.com.au or phone/ text 0438 259 985 www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
