Henry Edward Perenara (born 16 June 1980) is a New Zealand rugby league former referee and professional footballer who represented New Zealand. He played as a lock, though he could also play in the second-row. He is also the first NRL referee in history to send off a player for an alleged bite, he sent Kevin Proctor off in the Round 14 match of 2020, when Cronulla-Sutherland played against the Gold Coast. [1][2]

Henry Perenara
Personal information
Full nameHenry Edward Peranara
Born (1980-06-16) 16 June 1980 (age 44)
Auckland, New Zealand
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight100 kg (15 st 10 lb; 220 lb)
Playing information
PositionLock, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2000 New Zealand Warriors 3 0 0 0 0
2001–02 Melbourne Storm 33 8 0 0 32
2003–04 St. George Illawarra 16 1 0 0 4
2005–06 Parramatta Eels 11 1 0 0 4
2007 Cronulla Sharks 9 2 0 0 8
Total 72 12 0 0 48
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1999–00 New Zealand Māori 2 0 0 0 0
2001 New Zealand 1 0 0 0 0
Refereeing information
Years Competition Apps
2011–21 National Rugby League 127
2011–14 Four Nations 3
2013 Rugby League World Cup 5
Source: [1][2]

Background

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Perenara was born in Auckland, New Zealand.

He is a brother of Marcus Perenara and is a cousin of Sonny Bill Williams, and Hurricanes and All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara.

Early years

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Attending Lynfield College, Perenara played for the New Lynn Stags and Bay Roskill Vikings and represented the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 1998.[3][4]

Playing career

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In 1999, while under contract to the Warriors, Perenara played for Auckland North in the National Provincial Competition.[5] He was part of the Glenora Bears side that dominated the Auckland Rugby League competition that year, winning the Roope Rooster, Ruataki Shield and Fox Memorial.[6]

Perenara played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Melbourne Storm, Auckland Warriors and Parramatta in the National Rugby League competition.

Referee career

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Perenara retired as a player in 2007 to join the National Rugby League's referee cadet programme.[7] He made his first grade referee debut in 2011.

He was to make his Test debut on 6 October however the scheduled Test between the New Zealand national rugby league team and the Cook Islands was cancelled.[8] Instead, Perenara's Test debut came on 29 October 2011 when he controlled the Four Nations match between England and Wales. He was named the 2011 New Zealand Rugby League's referee of the year.[9] He is one of only four New Zealanders to play for New Zealand and referee a test match.[10]

In mid April 2021 Perenara retired at the age of 41 due to a heart condition. Perenara revealed to the Daily Telegraph he had been diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia, an abnormally fast heartbeat that causes shortness of breath, dizziness sweating or fainting. [11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Referee Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ New Zealand Rugby League Annual '98, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1998. p.181
  4. ^ Bay Roskill Rugby League Inc aucklandleague.co.nz
  5. ^ Jessup, Peter (16 March 1999). "Rugby League: Injury gives Hoppe a starting chance". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  6. ^ Junior Kiwi enjoys life in fast lane[dead link] Sunday Star-Times, 19 September 1999
  7. ^ Perenara quits to become a referee Sydney Morning Herald, 3 October 2007
  8. ^ "Perenara to make international refereeing debut". The Press. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  9. ^ Perenara's refereeing career given another boost Archived 5 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine rleague.com, 2 November 2011
  10. ^ In Touch Archived 14 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine New Zealand Rugby League, December 2011
  11. ^ "'I nearly blacked out': NRL referee Henry Perenara retires due to heart condition". 25 April 2021.
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