Something was highlighted to me last weekend as I sat watching the local Maroochy RSL rugby league grand finals.

Subconsciously, I probably already knew, but it was sledge-hammered into my head from the kick-off of the first game at 9.40am and as I left the ground at 6pm I was reminded by a league fan once again.

The referee is to blame for everything.

Now this shouldn’t surprise me because people blame everybody but themselves for everything – so it’s always the government’s, police, teachers’ or the bosses’ fault.

The funny thing about it is, it wasn’t just coming from the supporters of the teams that lost, but from the winners as well.

Now, I am not saying the referee doesn’t make mistakes but as far as I know they don’t make players drop balls or miss tackles.

Yes, there are mistakes and guess what? The players make them as well.

In my opinion, the bar has been lifted as far as what fans expect because of the hi-tech coverage of the NRL, where the guy in the middle has an absolute entourage of officials to help him get it right, unlike the old mate in the middle at park footy.

The funny thing is, if you believe anything that Gus Gould says, the NRL guys get a fair bit wrong as well.

Sneaky sound system

Speaking of refs, over the last few weeks I have been privy to an open-mike arrangement so I could hear what goes on out on the playing field.

It has been interesting, and on occasions quite funny, listening to players and officials “communicating”.

But the best I heard was when local ref Rex Sharp broke down during an under-19 game when he blew a calf muscle, forcing him to be replaced by another official.

I was sitting on the sideline watching the game and didn’t take too much notice until, through my earpiece, all I could hear was, “Ooh, ooh. Aaaah, s***” and I’m looking at the guy refereeing trying to figure what was going on.

It turned out Rex still had the mike on and he was in the dressing room trying to get his strapping and boots off.

What a great day

Back to last weekend, it was a great day at Wises Road, with both junior and senior finals.

I was impressed with the Maroochy club and the way they ran everything. They did a remarkable job.

It was also good to see among their volunteers a number of the Swans players chipping in to make it a successful day.

As far as the footy was concerned, the winning clubs all deserved their victories and I have to commend the Pirates A-grade side for a very impressive run over the last two seasons.

I also would like to acknowledge the bravery of the young Crushers side in the finals. They did not leave anything in the tank.

Celebrating with nana

The talented Brad Ibbs celebrated victory a little differently than his star-studded Sharks reserve-grade team-mates after they grabbed the title.

I rang Brad to congratulate him on Sunday night, expecting to hear the festivities at the Gregory Street clubhouse, but when he answered it was strangely subdued.

When I asked where he was, he replied: “At my nana’s wedding in Brisbane.”

I banged the phone on the table because I thought I heard wrong but in fact he was at his 76-year-old grandmother’s wedding.

Apparently, he planned to catch up with his mates later.

Now that is the best one I have heard – good on them.

Cranky Cougar pounces

Pete “The Cougar” Williams rang last Saturday.

He had taken offence to my reference to his beloved Buderim Soccer Club as “silvertails”.

The Cougar went to great lengths explaining how the club had been through tough times and could never be silvertails.

I explained I was referring to how the club had accumulated a number of players from other teams to come under the coaching of Alex Murphy and, how I wasn’t sure how healthy that was for the club, particularly when the coach moved on.

Well, the Cougar hammered me and said that the reason players came from other clubs was because they rated the coach. I guess that is hard to argue with.

Of course, Buderim won every first division trophy this year.