By Angus Hayman

For most rugby players, the pre-match routine is simple. Arrive at the ground, warm up and focus solely on the game ahead.

For Northern Suburbs Colts Scrumhalf Patrick Thompson, it often starts hours, or a night earlier….with a whistle in his hand.

Whether it’s a Friday night appointment or a Saturday morning fixture, Thompson regularly referees before swapping the whistle for the No.9 jersey of Norths’ 1st Colts side.

It’s a unique balancing act, but one that has become second nature for the rugby fanatic.

“I started refereeing four years ago when I was in Year 8,” Thompson told Rugby News.

“I always thought it looked really cool seeing the older boys doing it, and it was a good way to learn the laws, stay involved in rugby and earn a little bit of extra cash.

“Now it’s something I genuinely enjoy. It’s a completely different perspective on the game.”

That love for rugby has followed Thompson since his junior days.

Beginning his rugby journey at Ryde before spending time with Eastwood and Drummoyne, Thompson developed through Trinity Grammar’s First XV, captaining the side in Year 12 after representing CAS at both second and first representative level.

A pre-season stint at Gordon eventually led him to North Sydney midway through his first Colts campaign, and he hasn’t looked back.

“It’s been a great place to be,” he said.

“We didn’t have the start to the season we wanted, but over the last few weeks everything has started to click. We’ve built combinations, everyone’s getting closer together and you can see that in the way we’ve been playing.”

While Norths’ recent form has caught the eye of all budding colts rugby fans crying out for some closer competition, Thompson’s story stands out because of what he does before he even takes the field.

Refereeing while playing competitively at a high level is rare, but Thompson believes each role makes him better at the other.

“As a player, knowing the laws really well helps. You understand where the referee is coming from and how they’re interpreting different situations.

“You can probably bend a few things here and there within the laws, but I think the biggest thing is communication.

“Refereeing teaches you how to communicate with players, and then when you’re playing it helps you communicate with referees as well. Sometimes you might ask a question and they’ll think, ‘Yeah, maybe I did miss that one.’

“It’s made me a better player and I think playing also helps me referee because you understand what players are trying to do.”

Rather than seeing the whistle as a distraction, Thompson views it as another opportunity to improve his understanding of the game.

That deeper appreciation is reflected in the way he controls matches from halfback. Calm under pressure, organised around the ruck and constantly directing traffic, Thompson has become one of the competition’s most influential No.9s during Norths’ resurgence.

It has coincided with the Shoremen finding some of their best rugby of the season.

A breakthrough upset over Sydney University announced Norths as more than just plucky outsiders, while last weekend’s performance against second-placed Warringah showed they can match it with the competition’s heavyweights despite the 45-21 scoreline flattering the Rats late.

Those performances have given Norths genuine belief, even if the ladder still presents a significant challenge.

Five rounds remain and Norths sit eighth on 27 competition points, chasing sixth-placed Hunter and fifth-placed Manly, both on 39 points, while Gordon occupy seventh after their competition points deduction.

Fortunately for Thompson and Norths, the run home provides plenty of opportunities to make up ground, with clashes against Gordon, Hunter and Manly all still to come.

“We know we’ve got some tough games ahead,” Thompson said.

“But the mindset hasn’t changed. We just have to train hard, do all the one-percenters and trust what we’re building.

“The coaches have been outstanding. They’re really invested in the program and making sure we’re doing everything right.

“If we keep putting in good performances, teams will start looking at us differently. Hopefully they’ll realise we’re contenders and they’ll need to bring their best against us.”

Before those finals-defining clashes arrive, Norths face Eastwood this weekend in a match they’ll expect to win as they continue building momentum.

For Thompson, though, preparation will likely begin with another whistle, another game and another chance to see rugby from a completely different angle before stepping back into the role he knows best.

For someone who simply loves the game, there may not be a better way to spend a weekend.