[Image: Brendan Esposito/Football NSW]

Queensland’s week at the FFA National Futsal Championships 2017 has ended on a high with Sam Turner named the Junior Referee of the Tournament.

The Sunshine Coast official impressed assessors with his performances across the five-day tournament in Sydney, which culminated in his appointment to the Open AWD Mixed Grand Final.

Football Queensland State Referee Manager David Wiebe, who attended the tournament, said the honour was well earned.

“Sam performed extremely well in each of his games and is thoroughly deserving of the award,” Wiebe said.

“He proved his ability to listen to coaches and to implement their feedback in his performances.

“Sam also worked well with his fellow referees, helping them where he could provide advice of his own.”

Turner’s success marks the second straight year Queensland have claimed the award after Yianni Mooney earned the same recognition in 2016.

On the court, Queensland reached two Grand Finals in the U15 Boys and Open AWD Mixed divisions but both teams were denied silverware by Football NSW Thunder.

Four sides – the U12 Metro Boys, the U13 Metro Girls, the U13 Metro Boys and the U15 Metro Girls – all came within one match of their respective deciders but were edged out at the Semi-Final stage.