KARRA-Lee Nolan is certainly going places in the highly competitive world of sports officiating - and has her sights set on becoming the first female National Rugby League referee.
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The 19-year-old, who is studying to become a physical education teacher at Wollongong University is focused on her ultimate goal.
"There are a couple of girls already in the system and officiating in the junior rep scene so I have some catching up to do, but if I am number two or three, that's fine," the Blackbutt resident said.
"I just want to get there."
She took up officiating after watching her father Bernie refereeing and her brothers playing the game.
"Dad has been refereeing ever since I can remember and has always encouraged me, and that has played a huge part in keeping me keen and focused," she said.
"Mum has also been terrific, and always comes to watch my games and support me."
She leads a busy lifestyle, never more so than last weekend.
Nolan starred for the Albion Park-Oak Flats women's league tag team in their semi-final against Jamberoo. She scored all of her team's points during their 11-10 extra-time win, before rushing off to referee the blue ribband under-16.1 junior grand final at WIN Stadium.
"I was absolutely stoked when I heard I had been appointed to the 16.1s after being told earlier in the week I was doing the 14.2s," she said. "I thought Peter Ryan [South Coast League referees director] was kidding me when he told me.
"I owe Peter an enormous thanks for pushing me and giving me under-18 games this season.
"His positive feedback has helped me enormously, as has junior co-ordinator Craig Jones."
However, she saved her greatest praise for personal fitness coach, Gary Breakspear.
"Gary is incredible - he pushed me very hard and it is helping my fitness, which in turn is helping my refereeing."
Nolan has been nominated for the NSW rugby league junior representative referees squad, and if successful will work her way up the ranks.
"It will probably mean a year running touchlines in junior reps and then, hopefully, get centres. From there on it's a matter of refereeing well and see where that takes me."
