LEWIS Nelson realised after a second knee construction in 2016 that he was unlikely to make it as a player.
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On Saturday, the trainee commercial pilot (pictured) will officiate his maiden first-grand final when Hamilton take on Wanderers at No.2 Sportsground.
Jarryd Logan has controlled the past two deciders, but he is in Adelaide for the Division two National Rugby Championships.
Nelson, the No.2 referee, was in charge of the preliminary final and on Wednesday got the nod for the big one.
"I made my first grade debut as referee in 2013 but only got fair dinkum about it in 2016," Nelson said. "I was playing second grade for Hamilton in a pre-season trial and did my ACL a second time. Bubba (Hamilton coach Scott Coleman) used to tell me the only way I was going to get a gig in first grade was to pick up the whistle."
Nelson still has ties to the Hawks.
"I have a lot of mates there. You just have to switch off for the week and treat it is another game," he said. "I call it as I see it."
Though thrilled to be appointed to a top grade grand final, Nelson doesn't aspire to go to the next level.
"I just enjoy being be involved in the game," he said. "I make a point of whoever's home game it is, I stay back at the clubhouse or go to their pub for at least two beers and a debrief with the coaches if they are available. If you build can relationships it helps your refereeing."
* Hamilton president Brett Sutherland will be absent for the Hawks' shot at history. Sutherland flies out to Japan on Friday to attend the World Cup, but will no doubt be watching the livestream on BarTV.
* The season may not be over yet, but Southern Beaches have already started preparing for 2020.
Beaches will start pre-season training at Ernie Calland Oval on Wednesday, October 9. Strength and conditioning coach Chris Smith, who has the same role with the Newcastle Jets A-League side, has mapped out pre-season training programs. The club has also entered in several sevens tournaments over the summer.
After a disastrous 2018 off-season in which 15 first-grade players departed, Beaches are are getting on the front foot.
Although collecting the wooden spoon, they made a strong finish to the season, highlighted by a win over Singleton.
Ben Kinkade will again take the reins and has opened the door to any interested players, coaches and managers to join them.
On a good note to a tough season, Beaches collected the encouragement award in the club of the year section at the NHRU Anderson Medal presentation on Sunday.
"That highlights how hard everyone worked to keep us afloat," president Hayden Gavin said. "We plan to build on that effort next season."
