referees the under-18s game between the Magpies and Nyngan Tigers.

McCall, a casual teacher at Dubbo South Primary School, has been running lines since the 2007 season but admits she was taken back by the call-up to referee.

“The call from our appointments director John Acheson came during the week when he asked me if would like a centre game,” she said yesterday.

“I admit it was a bit daunting the more I thought about it but when it comes around on Sunday hopefully the nerves will have settled.”

On current form the talented Forbes side should beat Nyngan and that should make for a fairly easy game for the referee.

“I think if I can get the respect from the players, then the rest will fall into place.

“I’ve had some very good advice from all the referees I’ve worked with and one of the first to ring me was Willy Barnes with his congratulations.”

A self-confessed Penrith Panthers NRL fan, McCall grew up in the Penrith district before the family moved to Gulgong and with three brothers playing with the local football team (the Gulgong Terriers) it was only natural that rugby league would be a constant conversation topic around the dinner table.

“I also thought having my referees ticket would be a help for me after university for primary school teaching,” McCall said.

“It’s just been a natural progression from there.

“I had my first lines in Group 11 during the 2007 season, so here I am.”

After her under-18s game McCall won’t really have time to rest on her laurels, having also been appointed to run the lines for reserve grade referee Tom Peet and in first grade for Greg Phillips.

Other Astley’s Plumbing Group 11 referee appointments for round 8 have Mick Dries in first grade between Cobar and Narromine; Willy Barnes at Dubbo for Macquarie and CYMS; and Wayne Hughes at Kennard Park for the Wellington v Parkes game.