Ever since he trotted out with the Scone Thoroughbreds as a nine-year-old in the Hunter Valley, Bond University Bachelor of Exercise & Sports Science student Fletcher Shearman has lived and breathed rugby league.
But despite his passion for the game, just six years after running on for the first time he knew his time as a player was up.
“I was a pretty small kid and I was getting dragged around like a rag doll every week,” he says. “The other kids were just too big.”
Even though Shearman was belted from pillar to post his enthusiasm never waned. When an opportunity to try refereeing came up at his school, a switch was flicked.
He’s never looked back.
Shearman is now one of the youngest members of the Queensland Rugby League senior refereeing squad.
Back in May he was ‘wielding the whistle’ in Townsville at the Queensland Schoolboy Championships. His efforts during that tournament earned him the opportunity to oversee the U18s grand final – no mean feat when you’re only a year or so older than the players themselves.
He’s also just returned from a week officiating at the Australian Secondary Schools Championships in Redcliffe.
Both tournaments offer significant talent pathway opportunities for players – coveted spots in state and national schools teams are up for grabs.
It was a high-pressure environment, but Shearman passed with flying colours.
“Both tournaments are a pretty big thing for the players and their families,” he says.
“The Australian Secondary Schools Championship in particular is known as the pinnacle of carnivals because places in Australian teams are on the line. It was great to be a part of it. I was pretty happy with my achievement.”
It’s an achievement that is the result of significant hard work.
In addition to pressures imposed by his studies, Shearman spends a huge amount of time honing his craft.
“There’s obviously time spent refereeing or touch-judging games on the weekend,” he says.
“But there’s also a lot of reviewing of performance. Each week there’s a Zoom call with around 100 referees from all over the state where we try to fix what’s been going wrong and learn from what’s been going right.
“We also train up in Brisbane at Nudgee College. They’re long sessions where we work on skills and conditioning, and decision-making under fatigue.
“Then there’s also mid-week school games that pop up. I’m refereeing a game at Langlands Park (in Brisbane) this afternoon in fact. It’s a lot of work.”
Not that he’s complaining.
“I absolutely love it,” he says.
“I can’t really explain why, though. I just block out all the noise and get in a zone. It’s like having a special seat at the game.
“I’ve made a lot friends through it, and the takeaway skills like decision-making under pressure, communication and teamwork are invaluable.”