Henry Perenara

Background

Perenara was born in Auckland, New Zealand.

He is a brother of Marcus Perenara and is a cousin of Sonny Bill Williams, and Hurricanes and All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara.

Early years

Attending Lynfield College, Perenara played for the New Lynn Stags and Bay Roskill Vikings and represented the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 1998.

Playing career

In 1999, while under contract to the Warriors, Perenara played for Auckland North in the National Provincial Competition. He was part of the Glenora Bears side that dominated the Auckland Rugby League competition that year, winning the Roope Rooster, Ruataki Shield and Fox Memorial.

Perenara played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Melbourne Storm, Auckland Warriors and Parramatta in the National Rugby League competition.

Referee career

Perenara retired as a player in 2007 to join the National Rugby League's referee cadet programme. He made his first grade referee debut in 2011.

He was to make his Test debut on 6 October however the scheduled Test between the New Zealand national rugby league team and the Cook Islands was cancelled. Instead, Perenara's Test debut came on 29 October 2011 when he controlled the Four Nations match between England and Wales. He was named the 2011 New Zealand Rugby League's referee of the year. He is one of only four New Zealanders to play for New Zealand and referee a test match.

In mid April 2021 Perenara retired at the age of 41 due to a heart condition. Perenara revealed to the Daily Telegraph he had been diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia, an abnormally fast heartbeat that causes shortness of breath, dizziness sweating or fainting.

References

References

1. (31 December 2017). "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org.
2. (31 December 2017). "Referee Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org.
3. ''New Zealand Rugby League Annual '98'', [[New Zealand Rugby Football League]], 1998. p.181
4. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100523170735/http://aucklandleague.co.nz/display_page.asp?item=359 Bay Roskill Rugby League Inc] ''aucklandleague.co.nz''
5. Jessup, Peter. (16 March 1999). "Rugby League: Injury gives Hoppe a starting chance". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
6. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17329513.html Junior Kiwi enjoys life in fast lane]{{dead link. (February 2019)
7. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Perenara-quits-to-become-a-referee/2007/10/03/1191091175192.html Perenara quits to become a referee] ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 3 October 2007
8. (7 September 2011). "Perenara to make international refereeing debut". [[The Press]].
9. link. (5 November 2011 ''rleague.com'', 2 November 2011)
10. [http://www.nzrl.co.nz/media/63553/in%20touch%20nov%20dec%202011.pdf In Touch] {{webarchive. link. (14 January 2015 ''New Zealand Rugby League'', December 2011)
11. (25 April 2021). "'I nearly blacked out': NRL referee Henry Perenara retires due to heart condition".