Rookie NRL grand final referee Tony Archer will immerse himself in his work as a police prosecutor and steer clear of newspapers ahead of Sunday's big game.

Archer's appointment to the season decider between Melbourne and Manly caps a rapid rise in status for the 37-year-old as the form referee late in the 2007 season.

Before this year he had controlled just one NRL semi-final back in 2005 and he has yet to referee a State of Origin match or Test.

"It's an incredible honour," said Archer.

"You're always aiming for the grand final. It's one of the goals you set at the start of the year and you put all your effort into achieving it.

"When you get the two best sides playing each other you know it's going to be fast and you know they are going to be focused on playing football.

"The referee's job is to let them do that within the context of the rules and that's what I'll be letting them do."

Archer said he was more likely to be excited than nervous before the match and he planned to talk to former referees Mick Stone, Bill Harrigan and Tim Mander about handling the hype of the week ahead.

He'll try his best to avoid football talk leading into the game, but expects his colleagues at the police prosecutors' office to be in his ear.

"I will probably go to work tomorrow morning with the prosecutors for a little bit and get back there," he said.

"I like the fact it gets me away from footy a little bit ... (but) obviously tomorrow they will probably want to talk about football but it gives me an opportunity to have a balance.

"I won't shut myself off or lock myself away for the week.

"But I don't read the papers generally and I won't start doing it this week.

"There's obviously talk out and about in the world and I don't hide from that."

Referees coach Robert Finch also announced that Steve Chiddy and Russell Turner would be sideline officials with Bill Harrigan and Phil Cooley in the video referees' box.

Paul Simpkins is the standby referee.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP