DEDICATION UNDERPINS REFEREE VIVAS’ RAPID NSWRL RISE
Porfi Vivas (centre) prior to his Harold Matthews Cup debut, flanked by fellow CRL referee Jack Feavers (right)
Three years ago, Porfi Vivas was a novice junior referee still getting to grips with rugby league’s rulebook.
But on Sunday the 26-year-old enjoyed yet another milestone on his meteoric rise with the whistle, controlling his first match in the Harold Matthews Cup – the New South Wales Rugby League’s elite under-17s competition.
Vivas received the shock call-up to debut as lead referee in the Warriors’ Round 2 clash with South Sydney Rabbitohs in Auckland last Tuesday.
“The body’s a bit sore, but I’m very proud of it – I kind of didn’t realise it was such a big deal until after the fact,” Vivas said a day after his momentous appointment.
“I’m trying not to let it get to my head and I’m taking away as much from this as I can. This can be a massive learning opportunity.
“The pace of Harold Matthews is probably the fastest league you’ll ever experience, the speed is insane. You always feel like you’re on your back foot, but you’ve got to keep up with the young lads.
“Definitely felt a bit unfit out there, the nerves took over and I got a bit overwhelmed. But I pushed through it and sort of found my groove, found my rhythm and just got stuck in after 20 minutes.
“I’m not really kicking myself over anything. The prep was a bit more difficult, I went into it just trying not to make any mistakes – I hold myself to a high standard. Now reviewing it, seeing every decision that I’ve made, I’m writing comments and just learning from everything. Every single tackle I’m watching it as closely as possible.”
Vivas had a comforting presence nearby at Bruce Pulman Park, with mentor Jack Feavers – Canterbury Rugby League’s leading referee – serving as a touchline official.
Feavers has witnessed Vivas’ rapid progress firsthand and provided an insight to his rare dedication to, and enthusiasm for, a craft that was totally unfamiliar only a few short years ago.
“[The Harold Matthews Cup call-up is] testament to him and how hard he works. I met him three years ago at a Southern Zone Nines tournament, he turned up for the day and we roped him into running some touchlines,” explained Feavers, who has refereed at Jersey Flegg Cup (NSWRL under-21s) level and has been a touch judge in the NSW Cup and NRLW.
“He’d never really watched much league but wanted to give something a go – he had thought about reffing rugby but league was more exciting.
“From there, every week he is wanting to get on a Zoom with me at some point to talk through refereeing, watching bits of games he’s done that he’s found – even clips that a parent has taken from a grandstand or something – just to look at how he can be better. I’ve never worked with anybody that’s so obsessed to try and improve.
“He’s definitely got the temperament, but he’s not your traditional rugby league ref, right? Like he’s got no real footy background. He’s obsessed now and watches every game of footy, but he came into it with no real footy knowledge.
“And he just dedicates so much time to be better. I’m not sure he’d like me saying it, but he’d message me 50 to 100 times a week with different rule questions, different interpretation questions. He’s just thrown himself at it.”
Vivas started 2024 refereeing his first junior Canterbury Rugby League matches – and was running the touchlines in the NZRL National Men’s Premiership matches by the end of the year.
Last season, he progressed to handling CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership and NZRL National Men’s Premiership matches, subsequently receiving the CRL Community Referee of the Year award.
The supportive nature of the Canterbury Rugby League refereeing group has assisted the promising official’s development.
“It’s been a bit of a wild ride, I can’t really believe it,” Vivas admits.
“If you told me at the end of 2024 that I’d be reffing the [NZRL National] Men’s Premiership or even Canterbury prems, I’d think you were a bit crazy. But I put my head down and realised how far I can take it, so we’ll see where it goes.
“I’m very appreciative of everyone that has given me feedback. There’s a lot of local refs here in Canterbury that will give you a nudge and [give you] feedback. And then you take what you’re told and you start working on it and chip away.
“It happens all across the board. It doesn’t matter which grade you’re in.”
Interested in becoming a Canterbury Rugby League referee? Contact jamie@crfl.co.nz for more information.
