The Whistle Blowers

I'm no clown, and I'm there because of my decision-making. And I just express myself; it's just me.

– Cricket umpire Billy Bowden, at the start of this documentary

A referee is part policeman, part performer, part teacher...

– Narrator Pauline Gillespie, early in this documentary

I love it. When I took up refereeing there's no way that I ever thought this would end up as my job, and I'd get paid for it ... I'm lucky that at the moment I get to go to places where you referee in front of full houses...it's just a big adrenaline buzz.

– Rugby referee Steve Walsh, early in this documentary

I was born to be happy and to give my best, and some people up there are born to criticise, and they always will criticise. And you gotta live with that. But one thing's for sure; I'm probably having more fun than they are.

– Cricket umpire Billy Bowden on those who criticise his umpiring style

Paddy O'Brien is such a good guy and such a good referee. This was a case of invasion of the body snatchers; that wasn't Paddy O'Brien refereeing that game!

– Sports commentator Phil Gifford critiques Paddy O'Brien's performance at the 1999 Rugby World Cup

We get knocked a bit because it's cold etcetera etcetera, but the number of people that knock Southland that have never been here...they say that from Auckland or Wellington. I can say I've been to both of them, and give me Southland any day.

– Rugby referee Paddy O'Brien on his beloved Suthland