NRL undertakes massive clean out of referees, third of squad axed for 2026

Six match officials have been told their full-time contracts won’t be renewed in 2026, with their future in the elite game now unclear ahead of next season.

One of the departing officials is Darian Furner, 31, who is retiring from an on-field role for heath reasons after being diagnosed with a brain tumour last year.

He has accepted a full-time role as a referees development officer with the NRL.

However, the other five were told before June 30 their contracts would not be renewed for 2026, which has come as a devastating blow for the invested officials.

Their contracts expire on November 30, but there is the possibility they can be appointed as casual sideline officials in the NRL or other areas of the game.

Earlier this year former South Sydney football manager Brock Schaefer was appointed to oversee the entire referees program from pathways through to the NRL while former refs boss Jared Maxwell remained on the coaching staff but focuses on bunker accuracy and efficiency.

As part of this latest restructure in the refereeing ranks, a new group of officials could be brought in from the state competitions to replenish the squad numbers amid the biggest refresh of the game’s referees in recent years.

Those appointments are yet to be finalised, however Jarrod Cole from the QRL state league made his NRL debut in round 24, officiating North Queensland’s 38-4 win over Newcastle.

The addition of new faces to the squad is understood to be the first time in years the NRL has offered a new contract to a rugby league official as part of the 17-person elite team, with the average ago of the existing squad now 40.

“Just like any team, the NRL has a responsibility to create opportunities for new emerging talent and replenish the officiating squad to optimise performance,” said an NRL spokesman.

“The NRL is committed to providing opportunities for the next generation of emerging referees.

“The NRL has been working with the departing members of the squad to assist them with transition back to the general workforce and officiating at other levels of the game should they wish to do so.”

It comes as leading referee Chris Butler moves into a full-time role in the bunker from next year, as revealed by this masthead.

The clean-out has come as a shock for some officials.

At least one expressed concern the restructure is part of a mass casualisation of referees and a cost-cutting exercise at head office, with fears it could impact the quality of performances when expectations on match officials are already high.

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Head of the referees union John Choueifate declined to comment when contacted.

The axed refs have been told by the NRL there’s the potential for casual work, however, they are still waiting on clarity about what their future might look like in the game.

If offered casual positions, the officials are concerned about expectations to remain match fit for an elite sport while maintaining full-time jobs outside the game.

Originally published as NRL undertakes massive clean out of referees, third of squad axed for 2026