The NSWRL is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of highly-respected referee John Gocher after a long illness. He was 81.
Throughout a highly-decorated career, one of the many matches Gocher is remembered for is the notorious 1981 Semi-final brawl between Manly Warringah and Newtown at the SCG.
Players ran in from all points of the field and it took more than two minutes to restore order before Gocher called out captains Tom Raudonikis (Newtown) and Max Krilich (Manly) and awarded a penalty to the Jets.
NSW Rugby League Referees Association (NSWRLRA) Executive Officer, Greg McCallum, said Gocher was universally liked by both players and administrators of the game.
“He was at the top of the referee ranks in the early 1980s,” McCallum said. “He was defined by his calmness – always had that very calm persona on the field.
“He never, ever, raised his voice and the players respected him for that cool head.”
Gocher refereed 178 first grade matches from 1976 to 1986, including seven finals (1981-83). He was the man in the middle for the 1982 Grand Final won by Parramatta 21-8 over Manly Warringah.
He took charge of the 1981 and 1982 grand finals of the mid-week competition known as the Tooth Cup and KB Cup - South Sydney beating Cronulla-Sutherland 10-2 (1981) and Manly beating the Newtown Jets 23-8 (1982).
Gocher also handled the Game Two of the 1983 State of Origin series (won 10-6 by NSW at the SCG), and four Test matches (1982-84).
He served the NSWRLRA with distinction as Treasurer from 1979-1983 and was recognised for his service with Life Membership of the NSWRLRA in 1983.
After he retired he went into coaching referees and when the NRL was formed in 1998, Gocher became a video referee for a further 132 games, including the 1997 Super League Grand Final, the 2000 NRL Grand Final and the 1998 Origin series - the first to use a video referee.
“So he had a long association with Rugby League and was a very good communicator,” McCallum said.
“It was as much his off-field work in bringing through the next generation of match officials and working as a video referee that equally benefitted from that calm on-field style and knowledge he was known for.
“Players and administrators alike never had a bad word to say about John Gocher.”
Rugby League played a key role in the Gocher family.
His late wife Denise Gocher was secretary for former NSWRL Chairman Kevin Humphreys, while one of his sons Darren came through the NSWRL referee ranks to make his NRL debut in 2000, officiating in over 100 NRL games, four Origins and two Tests.
The NSWRL extends its condolences to Gocher’s family, friends and colleagues.
