Exclusive: Ex-Super League referee Tim Roby makes shock career move

When Super League referees come to mind, the sport’s fraternity sometimes takes for granted the difficulties involved in taking up the whistle in the middle of the field.

In many respects, officiating is not for the faint hearted so, whilst some stay in the game for a long time – like touch judge Tony Martin – others sometimes pursue other avenues.

For example, Joe Cobb left the sport to pursue his passion in law, but for Tim Alouani-Roby – who officiated in Super League between 2010 and 2015 – his new career is even more left field.

Alouani-Roby – who married his Moroccan partner and took her name alongside his own – moved to the NRL in 2015, nailing down a refereeing spot for five years before leaving at the end of the 2020 season with his contract not being renewed.

Now, though, after taking on the role as a writer for the Arab Millennial – a social enterprise and think tank featuring contributions from experts on Arab societies – Alouani-Roby is retraining as an architect at Sydney University.

And, with Alouani-Roby graduating with an MA distinction in English Literature, it’s safe to say he is certainly cut out for the studying life.

Having said that, it is understood that he is also taking time away from professional refereeing.