Referee Career
Vital Statistics
- Nickname(s)
- Hollywood
- Born
- Sunday, 19th July, 1942
- Current Age
- 83 years and 255 days
- Place Of Birth
- Paddington, New South Wales, Australia
Biography
Newtown reserve grade halfback was left in a critical condition after rupturing his spleen and injuring his kidneys during a match in 1967. Three subsequent operations ended his playing career at age 22, but Hartley became the most flamboyant and controversial referee of the 1970s. Graded as a referee in the Easts junior league in 1969, he first came to prominence during the three-way play-off for fifth place in the 1975 semi-finals. 'Hollywood' Hartley's dealings with Parramatta, and in particular coach Jack Gibson, reached rock-bottom during the latter part of the decade while his performance in the1978 grand final replay between Manly and Cronulla drew widespread criticism. However, he was also easily the best (and certainly the most watchable) referee during that period and was chosen to officiate in four consecutive grand finals (1978-81). Ironically, in the last of these, he gave an accomplished, even understated, display that resulted in Parramatta first premiership title. The same year he was chosen to referee Test matches in five countries involving every rugby league nation. Hartley retired in 1982, joining Peter Peters to become the highest rating commentary team in radio. After almost a decade at the top at 2GB, the pair parted company after a disappointing period with 2KY. Hartley returned to 2GB in 1993, sans Peters, but the pair briefly reunited in 1995 before returning to the airwaves with 2KY in 2002.
- ALAN WHITICKER
Referee Career Statistics
All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.
To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
Contributions:
Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Greg Fiveash, Max Turner, Paul Carter, Shawn Dollin, Alan Katzmann
Your Say
30 May 2017 11:22am
Greg played his junior league with Paddington Colts, in the Eastern Suburbs Junior league, and the nickname "Hollywood" he gained as a first grade referee was evident even in those days.
Having played myself with Easts juniors, with the now defunct Woollahra Waratahs, I was playing C grade against the colts, and was asked to back up for our depleted B and A grade matches, all played on the same day following each other.
Greg was playing in the Colts A grade scrum, and I was playing hooker with the Waratahs.
After the game and after the Colts gave us a drubbing, Greg came up to me, congratulated me a a young C grader playing my first A grade game, and informed me that he was the one "gouging my face" and that I should have retaliated. I never played with a loose arm though. :)
11 Aug 2018 11:40am
Back In The 60s Growing Up In Paddington The Colts Players Had A Dress Sense Being Dapper Trousers Held High And A Walking And Running Shuffle Greg Hartley in My Mind Is How The 60s Were In Paddington
6 Jan 2021 10:19pm
I always enjoyed games he ref’d he made some mistakes but none more than the players he ref’d in a game.
3 Apr 2024 3:40pm
Greg was Graded with Canterbury Bankstown in 1963, I played a number of games with him in 3rd grade, I was Half, Greg was 5/8.
25 Mar 2026 1:35am
Alan Whiticker's statement regarding Hartley as the best referee at the time is subjective at best.
The simple fact that in 78 he was refereeing reserve grade for a total of 11 weeks exposes the farce that those finals become. A reserve grsde referee doesnt get the grsnd final after giving Manly 7 tackles twice and Parramatta 5 tackles twice in the same semi final match.
Jack Danzey was the best referee at the time. He was appointed to the final match of the round between Wests and Cronulla which was to decide the minor premiership. That same round Hartley was assisting Manly in their crucial game against Easts.
The man that presented Hartley with his appointments was voted into the top job at the NSWRL by a 3 man commitee that was led by Manly's boss Ken Arthurson.
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