Chris Butler will referee his first National Rugby League match this Saturday when he partners Shayne Hayne in the middle for the Storm v Raiders clash at AAMI Park.
The appointment caps a stellar rise for the 28-year-old, who started out as a modified games referee at junior level.
His talent was quickly identified by the QRL, which oversees a number of rewarding programs and pathways for match officials.
Butler has refereed 73 games in the Intrust Super Cup since making his debut in 2009.
He has a string of representative appointments to his name as well, including the Queensland Residents v NSW Residents match at Suncorp Stadium in 2012.
Last season he was appointed to the NYC grand final in Sydney.
Chris Butler – Fulltime member of NRL Referees’ Squad
Age: 28
Local Association: Brisbane
Qld/Intrust Super Cup games: 73
Major Achievements: National Schoolboys Open GF (2006); FOGS Colts GF (2007); Toyota Cup semi-final (2009 & 2010), Intrust Super Cup semi-final (2010-2012); Junior Kiwi v Junior Kangaroos touch judge (2011-2012); QLD Residents v NSW Residents (2012); Toyota Cup GF touch judge (2012); NRL touch judge (2011-2012), NYC GF (2013).
