Peter Gough - Rugby league
After working his way up through the rugby league ranks to play for the Parramatta Junior Eels in Sydney, Peter Gough suddenly decided to concentrate his efforts on refereeing. It was, says the 20-year-old, because refereeing became more fun than playing. “It’s hard to explain, but I get more enjoyment out of it, I feel like I’m giving more to the game. It’s not about control, but being part of the game and helping the flow.” Now studying Sport and Exercise Science at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Gough says he is fitter and more focussed than as a player. “There’s a lot more competition for refereeing. There are 13 positions for players on a field, but only one person can referee. It takes a lot to push yourself up to get to the top. I’ve already gone a lot further with refereeing than I would have with playing.” Despite feeling as a player that referees were “problem makers”, Gough now hopes to referee professionally and hopes to use his National Officiating Scholarship to give more of an insight in to what is needed to make it to the top as a National Rugby League official.
