Brisbane junior referee to present NRL grand final medal

Budding Brisbane junior referee Harrison Western will be centre stage on NRL grand final day as part of the medal presentation to the match officials in the big dance.

The 15-year-old will present Adam Gee his medal after the game, a particularly special one for the elite referee taking control of his first NRL grand final.

Harrison said he thought Gee made good decisions and controlled the games he officiated well and was looking forward to the experience.

"To present the medals for the elite referees is a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity. I'll be nervous but very excited," he said.

Harrison officiates junior International grades as part of the Brisbane Rugby League Referees' Association, mostly in under 13s and under 14s.

He also played at Slacks Creek this year, but will hang up the boots as a player to instead focus on working towards his goal of being part of the QRL officiating high performance unit.

"I love doing it, I love helping the kids out and I'm having fun, and just fitness as well," he said.

"It's just being around people that enjoy the same interests."

Earlier this week, Harrison was one of 15 Queensland officials who visited Sydney for an engagement opportunity with NRL elite officiating members and staff, giving them an insight into the demands of the top level.

Harrison said the experience would be useful in helping him prepare for refereeing older age groups next year, in which a 10m rule is enforced.

"We did a bit of decision making under fatigue and that was really good with Ben Cummins and a lot of other top referees as well," he said.

"I had to be on my 'A' game and I learnt a lot. It was a great day."

It will be a big few days for Harrison, who returned from Sydney and got straight into officiating at the Queensland Murri Carnival, then will be jumping in the car with mum Tracey early Saturday morning for the long drive back down south.