'I know I've done the work': Josh Eaton all set for Cup debut
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Josh Eaton will be smiling and brimming with positivity when he runs on to Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday for his debut as a Hostplus Cup referee.
Born and bred in Townsville, the 24-year-old said didn't think he was a realistic change this year, despite hitting his straps in preseason on the back of climbing the junior representative and carnival pathway in recent years.
"It was very unexpected. I personally didn't think the opportunities would come this year, so my mentality this year was really hitting preseason hard and try to referee local A grade to the best of my ability and prepare myself for when the opportunity would come," Eaton said.
"The week has gone pretty quick since I found out, and I'm definitely pretty keen," he said.
Eaton, who will become HPC Match Official #75, has had a taste of Cup as a touch judge and controlled the recent XXXX Foley Shield in Mackay, giving him confidence going into the dream scenario at a major stadium, where Northern Pride and Souths Logan Magpies will do battle.
Match: Pride v Magpies
Round 11 -
home Team
Pride
2nd Position
away Team
Magpies
12th Position
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
"The first few rounds of local A grade - we've got a pretty strong competition here in Townsville - and then the Foley Shield as well has definitely assisted in preparing to make my debut," he said.
"What makes me feel confident is literally going out there with a smile on my face and having a good time.
"I know I've done the work beforehand to get me to this point and learn as much as I can.
"I've really learnt not to put too much pressure on myself. I am a perfectionist - after the game it can drive me crazy thinking about all types of decisions - but in the moment my strength is enjoying it, getting out there, talking through play and just ruling on what I see in front of me"
Confidence is not something Eaton has always had - the lack of it initially meant he only ever wanted to be a touch judge after first picking up the flag when he was still playing juniors for Centrals Tigers.
That all changed when the late Townsville District Rugby League Referees' Assocation coach Sam O'Brien - a major influence on a number of officials from the area including recent NRL debutant Wyatt Raymond - instilled Eaton with much-needed belief.
"I pretty much got roped in to (officiating) with a couple of mates just for a bit of pocket money at that time of life when you go find a part-time job at Macca's or something, but one of my mates convinced me to come referee and I went to training and picked up the flag on weekends," Eaton said.
"I didn't have the confidence to jump out in the middle - it was a bit of my comfort zone at that point - but I had one of the best mentors in Sam O'Brien.
"He gave me the start, gave the whistle, sort of didn't give me a choice, it was an under 8s game and he gave me the whistle and said: 'Have a crack, I'll come out with you and give you a hand'.
"I think that's all it really took, just someone to have the confidence in me and to push me out of my comfort zone and that's where I really found my love for refereeing, being pushed out of my comfort zone... and learning from it."
The community and the family feel - both within the TDRLRA and QRL Officiating crew - has been the driver for Eaton's continued involvement, and he hoped the taste of Cup and a good performance on Friday would give him new learnings for the opportunities further ahead.
QRL Officiating High Performance Unit manager Andrew Wareham said it was pleasing to have another regional referee step into the middle, highlighting Eaton's work ethic as the driver for his opportunity.
"He's put the work in to put himself in a position to knock down the door for selection," Wareham said.
"That's testament to his work ethic. I know he's quite busy outside of footy with his work, but he certainly puts the work in and he's had the opportunities in the past couple of years and seen that there is a pathway there and the is potential and he has taken that and embraced that, and that's what we're most proud of."
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