Phil Cooley

Phillip Cooley is an Australian former rugby league referee.

Phil Cooley
Personal information
Full namePhillip Cooley
Refereeing information
Years Competition Apps
1986–1989 New South Wales Rugby League 30

Cooley began his refereeing career in the Newtown District Junior Rugby League. He was subsequently graded to referee in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) in 1982,[1] gaining his first first-grade match in 1986.

Cooley controlled 30 first-grade matches between 1986 and 1989. When others were preferred for that role, Cooley reinvented himself as a touch judge. In that capacity he made his most notable contributions to rugby league, officiating in 194 National Rugby League matches (including the 1996, 1997 and 2000 grand finals), and eight State of Origin matches. Cooley retired as an on-field official at the end of 2001. He then went on to the role of video referee for a further 279 first-grade matches. Cooley retired from officiating in 2012, having achieved over 500 first-grade appointments.[2]

In his 2003 book Harrigan: The referee in a league of his own, former leading referee Bill Harrigan reflected that Cooley had been dropped after a 1986 first grade game for several poor decisions, including incorrectly sending Parramatta Eels' Peter Sterling to the sin bin,[3] the only time in Sterling's career. Harrigan noted that Cooley "went on to become one of the best first grade touchies the game has ever had".[4] In 2012 Harrigan, by then director of referees, had occasion to stand down Cooley after he had made a bad call as a video referee.[5] Cooley soon returned to duty and was appointed at the end of 2012 as a video referee for the grand final of the New South Wales Cup.[6]

Honours and awards
  • 2013 - Eric Cox Medal for very significant contribution to the NSWRLRA for at least ten years after receiving Life Membership[1]
  • 2013 - NSWRLRA 300 Club inductee for officiating in at least 300 first grade rugby league matches[7]
  • 1994 - Life Membership of the NSWRLRA[7]
  • 1991 - Award for outstanding contribution to the NSWRLRA[7]

References
  1. "2013 The Eric Cox Medal goes to Phil Cooley". foxsportspulse.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  2. "2012 Phil Cooley reaches 500 Games". foxsportspulse.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  3. Middleton, David. "When the Eels and Rabbitohs went to war". nrl.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  4. Harrigan, Bill (2003). Harrigan: The referee in a league of his own. Sydney: Hachette Australia. p. 91. ISBN 9780733618888.
  5. "Harrigan sacks NRL video referee Cooley". abc.net.au. 6 March 2012. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  6. "2012 NSW Cup Grand Final, 30th September". foxsportspulse.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  7. NSW Rugby League Referees Association (2013). "106th Annual Report and Financial Statement". Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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