Former refs boss Bill Harrigan worried about the effect of constant criticism on referees Former referees boss Bill Harrigan says he is concerned about the effect of constant critcism on referees. BILL Harrigan, nicknamed "Hollywood" because of his brashness, has revealed he was mentally broken last year and is concerned about increases of depression among referees. The former NRL referees manager is opening up about how debilitating being a whistleblower can be because of the humiliation young Intrust Super Cup ref Marcus Schooth suffered this week. Abusing referees is a national pastime in Australia, few stop to think of the emotional stress the relentless criticism can cause. Schooth was thrust into national headlines following a howler of a call in an Intrust Super Cup clash on Sunday, when he failed to notice a player field a ball two metres out of bounds. The game was televised live on Channel 9 with commentators describing it as the worst call of all time. Harrigan, the code's most decorated referee, said he felt for Schooth and hoped he didn't walk away from the industry. Harrigan found himself emotionally distraught last year, after receiving endless criticism over his performance as referees" manager. His own children were taunted at school because of the headlines. "What I went through last year . . . it was an extraordinary year," Harrigan told The Courier-Mail. I was getting hammered in the press and it wasn't until I got out of it that I realised it was killing me. At the time I knew I was stressed, coming home being snappy and grumpy. When I looked back at it I realised that it was physically . . . having a major impact on me. I have seen referees throw it all away because of the pressure. I have seen referees have serious personal issues and go down a path . . . you know which path I mean. We look at the all-time worst refereeing holwers. Harrigan said he did not believe he suffered from depression, but had personally dealt with many referees who had battled the disease. "No, not that (depression) but you have times of doubt," Harrigan said. There are times where you don't want to be seen. A big problem is the effect it has on your kids who are copping it at school. I feel for this guy (Schooth). He has kids, family, that will be affected. People don't realise that when they are abusing you. They forget this guy is a human being. Any sort of scrutiny like that, if you are getting bashed around in the media, it can have a devastating effect on you and your family. It goes right across the board, even in Oztag where I'm now involved there are issues retaining refs and that's why if there is any abuse we come down very hard. Schooth had already fought back from a violent attack when he was a junior referee. As a starry-eyed ref on the Sunshine Coast in 2005, Schooth was viciously set upon by a 15-year-old player who smashed his jaw with repeated punches.