League: Super League would welcome threatened NRL referee Matt Cecchin

Referee Matt Cecchin plans to leave his role with the NRL at the end of the season. Photo / Photosport

Leading NRL referee Matt Cecchin would be welcomed by the Super League should he wish to continue his career overseas.

The 44-year-old, who will referee his 300th match in first grade this weekend, revealed earlier this week to that he and his family had received death threats after he disallowed a try to Tongan prop Andrew Fifita that would have helped the side beat England in the World Cup semifinals.

Cecchin revealed to the Sydney Morning Herald he planned to hang up his whistle at the end of the NRL season due to the backlash that comes with the job, but a move to the UK's Super League competition was an option.

It would be a move welcomed by the UK's premier rugby league competition, with the organisation's new chief executive chief executive Robert Elstone extending an invitation for Cecchin to join the refereeing staff.

Elstone told the SMH it would be great for the competition to have a referee with Cecchin's resume join them.

"To referee at the level he has in Australia, he is clearly a very high-calibre referee. If we're constantly seeking improvements in our game then we would embrace it.

"If you really are striving to make the [English] league as good as it can be, officials are a big part of that.

"Therefore you take the best officials you can. Matt, with all of his experience, would tick that box.

"I'd certainly be very favourable to it."