Raymond on Pelgrave: ‘He’ll do more than just get through, he’ll nail it’
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Nick 'Pelly' Pelgrave – still riding high from officiating his 150th Hostplus Cup game during Activate! Queensland Country Week – will referee his first NRLW game this weekend.
The Queensland Rugby League high performance unit member will be in the middle when Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys face off at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday.
Pelgrave ran his first ever NRL line when the New Zealand Warriors and St George Illawarra Dragons clashed at the Sunshine Coast in Round 1 of the NRL last year. He has since run 25 NRL lines.
He is stoked to be continuing develop within the game he loves so much.
"Very excited, obviously," Pelgrave said.
"I've been in and around that environment before but never had the opportunity to referee. It's another exciting opportunity that presents this weekend.
"Before the competition started, Jared Maxwell (NRL elite officiating general manager) suggested that opportunities may present... you're always hopeful but you never sort of hang your hat on those things because it's an ever-changing environment, rugby league.
"To get the appointments through on Tuesday afternoon was, not so much relief, but, at the same time it was.... you always want to see your name on those elite appointments. To get an opportunity to referee in one of those elite competitions is something I'm looking forward to."
Wyatt Raymond, a former QRL high performance unit member who joined NRL’s full-time officiating ranks at the beginning of 2021, said he loved seeing a fellow Queenslander succeed.
“It’s such a solid pathway in Queensland and it’s run by some high quality people and coaches… they should definitely be reaping the rewards of their program,” Raymond, who has been in the middle for 55 Cup games, on the line for 75 NRL games and in the middle for four NRLW games, said.
“We’re outnumbered in the full-time squad so the more the merrier. My first occasion in the middle was a memory I have great pride in. The exposure to the NRL environment for the first time gave me the drive and taste to keep progressing and pursue a career in it. I hope it makes the fire burn even more so for Pelly this time too.”
Raymond said the 31-year-old, who had “chipped away at his craft for a while now”, was so deserving of the opportunity and he could not wait to watch him thrive.
“I honestly couldn’t be happier that Pelly is getting the opportunity to immerse himself in the full NRL environment. He’s more than ready and I know he’ll do more than just get through, he’ll nail it,” Raymond said.
“As a match official, Pelly is a straight up and down referee… calls it how he sees it and isn’t afraid to make the tough decisions.
"Pelly has the type of character and demeanour that every club and team needs... he’s the person that will hit you between the eyes with the feedback you need, but also be the first person to get around you and sing your success when it comes your way.
“Pelly is one of the few who also gets along very well with players away from the field - a true credit to his character.
"He’s an integral member of the QRL high performance unit. He makes the endless running and time spent being short of breath, that slight bit enjoyable.
“My interactions with Pelly have always been a solid balance of professionalism and enjoyment. We have a relationship where we’ve been able to challenge each other, hold each other accountable but also have the best of times away from the field. He’s provided me with laughter that hurts your stomach on more occasions than I can count.”
QRL officiating high performance unit coach Andrew Wareham said Pelgrave was "one of the hardest workers in the group", so definitely deserved the opportunity.
"He is a real student of the game, which we've seen through what he's achieved as an on-field referee in our Hostplus Cup competition, plus the work he's done within the NRL as a touch judge," Wareham said.
"It's a natural evolution for him to go on now and get this opportunity and have no doubt that he will just continue to go from strength to strength through this appointment.
"He's obviously one of our leaders in our group... he's always the first to jump on the phone and congratulate a debutant or to talk to somebody who needs support.
"So, for him, it's a great reward for the effort he's put in over the years."
Wareham said it was particularly special for him to watch Pelgrave's journey.
"I'm genuinely excited for him," Wareham said.
"It's always good to see a little Nick Pelgrave at the under 13, 14, 16 carnivals in 2008 develop into where he is today and to see this opportunity.
"I've probably watched the evolution of Pelly so there's just some genuine excitement there in regards to this appointment. And, yeah, a bit of pride there as well, knowing that I've contributed in a very small way to his development."
