The tally currently stands at 985 senior games as referee and touch judge.

Rugby league has been a feature of Rocky’s life for 50 years. He began playing in the top grade with the Forestville Ferrets as a 17-year-old. 

A few years later he was called up into the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Rocky said playing first grade as a 21-year-old was frustrating.

“As one of the young players, and I wasn’t a big guy, you’d be on the bench and only get a run when the game was like 30-4 and you can’t really make an impression on the game in that situation,” Rocky said.

He then played with the Illawarra Devils for a season until a car accident on the way to training made him reassess his football career.

“I used to have to drive through the fog to training and the roads were terrible. It was too dangerous, so I came back to Forestville and stayed.

“I was better off playing A grade football (with Forestville) and the club was a community. My kids (three sons) played too and I coached them.”

Rocky played A-grade rugby league until the age of 35 after around 248 games, five grand finals (which included four premierships), then took up refereeing. 

“Football has been so good to me. I got to go overseas and enjoyed playing. I took up refereeing to give back,” Rocky said.

Rugby league hasn’t been the only sport in Rocky’s free time. He has played golf, tennis, squash and touch football. In each sport he has reached the top grades.

Retiring to the Camden Haven three years ago hasn’t stopped his involvement in sport or rugby league.

He will clock up the magic 1,000 games as a referee this season.

As a player his love now is bowls at Club North Haven. Rocky has earned two Mid North Coast open pairs titles, qualified for two zone finals and won one of those. He was runner up in the state open pairs.

He’s also keen on snooker and Texas Hold’em poker.

Rocky can be seen most Sundays at the beach, keeping his fitness routine for the footy season.

“I run from North Haven to Bonny Hills and back in the surf up to my knees every Sunday. People see me out there, tell me I’m mad, but keeps me fit and alert,” Rocky said.

Rugby league, Rocky said, has given him many life skills.

“It’s a character-building sport. You’ve got to have the ability to get belted up and pick up injuries and not worry about it. It’s not for the faint-hearted. You make life-long friends.

“It’s good for a town to have a rugby league team. It’s a family thing. If you’re playing football generally your kids play too.

“If anyone is taking up a sport, I give them any encouragement because it brings benefits in life. It helps get your kids involved when they see you play. And it keeps you out of trouble.”

As a referee, Rocky said he enjoys the challenge of making decisions and dealing with the personalities on the field.

“As a referee you need to make quick decisions and have thick skin. Everyone bags the referee but when you’re out in the middle, would you believe, you can’t hear any of that because you’re focussed on the game.

“I get a lot of cheek from some new players, but when you don’t back down players know not to question you’re decisions. 

“In the time I’ve been refereeing up here, I’ve only put one person in the bin and that was for a dangerous tackle.

“I stamp out rubbish early and that helps the players get on with the game and keep it moving.”