Penrith Referees’ Association Elect New Chairman
At last nights Annual General Meeting, the Penrith Referees’ Association elected Rohan Best as their new Chairman for the 2026 season. Rohan’s appointment comes following the retirement of long-time Chairman, Gary Haines, who had been in the role since 2016.
Rohan brings considerable experience to the role, having been a member of the Association since 2001. He became a life member in 2014 and officiated in over 65 NRL matches between 2015 and 2018. He has previously served as the Deputy Chairman and Director of Media and Communications, as well as various other roles.
“This a huge honour and one I do not take lightly,” said Rohan following the election.
“Gary leaves enormous shoes to fill. His contribution to this Association and rugby league more broadly in the Penrith District has been immense. We are truly grateful for all that he has given over some 40 years of service and cannot thank him enough.”
Speaking on the road ahead, Rohan said he is excited for the opportunity to lead the Association into the future, as they prepare to celebrate 60 years of serving the Penrith sporting community.
“Gary and his team have left us in an incredibly strong position, with some 255 members in 2025, over 30% of which were female referees.
“There were over 5,000 games played across the Penrith District this season, making it by far the largest Junior League of its kind anywhere in the world. This will only grow as the game continues to expand, and we must grow with it.
“Without the match officials, there is no game.”
Curtis Robsinson will take up the position of Deputy Chairman, while Dillan Wells was elected Director of Referee Development.
Rohan added, “Dillan’s election is a huge win for officiating in our District,”
“In 2025 he was the NRLW Referee of the Year, as well as the NSWRL Graded Match Official of the Year.
“To have this kind of knowledge and experience leading our coaching ranks and available for our members to tap into is invaluable.”
The rest of the Board of Management were re-elected to their respective positions from 2025.
Anyone wishing to become a referee, or a coach of match officials for 2026 can head to https://www.penrithreferees.com.au/contact.
