In October 2023, Darian “Big D” Furner was preparing to officiate a match in Papua New Guinea when he suddenly became unwell. He was flown back to Australia, where he was diagnosed with a brain stem tumour.
Over the following four months, Darian underwent three brain surgeries, followed by seven weeks of radiation. Showing incredible determination, he returned to full-time training in late 2024 with the goal of making his way back to the NRL. In 2025, he achieved that goal by officiating in the NRLW competition as a touch judge, before making the difficult decision to retire at the end of the season.
Just before Christmas 2025, Darian’s health declined again. He was admitted to hospital, where scans confirmed that the tumour had never fully gone away and was continuing to progress. He underwent further surgery on 2 January 2026.
Since then, Darian’s road to recovery has been far more challenging than his initial rehabilitation. His wife Emma continues to work full-time while caring for their three young children, Frederick (8), Arlington (6), and Humphrey (3), as Darian currently undergoes treatment at the Hunter Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit.
Now is the time for the rugby league community to come together and rally behind Darian, Emma, and their family. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will go directly towards Darian’s care, treatment, rehabilitation, and the ongoing support the family will need as they navigate the road ahead.
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Debut Round 18, 2019 Canberra Raiders vs Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium.
74 x NRL touchlines
6 x NRLW Referee, 2 x Touchlines, 2 x Video Referee
7 x Test match touchlines
2022 NRL State Championship Grand Final
2022 Women’s World Cup Final Touch judge
2023 Women’s SOO touch judge
2023 U19’s Men’s Origin Ref
196 x Grade matches
91 x NSW Cup (76 x Referee & 15 Touch judge)
41 x Ron Massey Cup combined
56 x Sydney Shield combined
8 x President’s Cup Combined
2014 Harold Matthews Cup Grand Final Referee
2015 Sydney Shield GF in goal
2017 HNWP Grand Final referee
2017 Grade official of the year
2017 U18’s Origin referee
2017 Mick Stone medallist
2018 Ron Massey Cup Grand Final Referee
2022 NSW Cup Grand Final Referee – receiving the Bill Harrigan Shield
2022 Rugby League World Cup