Paul McBlane

Paul Douglas McBlane was an Australian rugby league referee who officiated in the NRL and other first-grade competitions.
McBlane started his first grade career in 1994 in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership. In 1996, in the midst of the Super League war, he was accused of bias against the breakaway teams. He controlled the City vs Country Origin match that year.
In all, he officiated 97 first grade matches. McBlane was one of the original referees of the new National Rugby League competition in 1998, becoming referee number 10.

Death

McBlane died of a heart attack in his sleep on 31 January 2017, aged 53. He had been preparing to be married at the time of his death.