Badger and Sharpe making history and proving doubters wrong

Words couldn’t describe the significance of being appointed one of the first females to referee under the single referee system but Kasey Badger vividly recalls being told that it would never happen.

Belinda Sharpe and Badger will make officiating history in Round 27 as the first females to referee in the NRL under the single referee system. 

“I personally know of people involved in the game who directly told me that it wouldn't happen and now we're here,” Badger said following the announcement on Tuesday.

“It's something I've never forgotten. So it definitely something that stuck with me.

“I had a couple of those discussions with some close family members earlier today and it does feel good to know that we've made it here.”

Badger has touch judged 161 NRL matches, officiated as a Bunker Review Official in 43 and refereed the NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership Grand Finals and the men’s World Cup match between Tonga and Wales in 2022. 

On Sunday she will take charge of the Titans-Bulldogs clash at Cbus Super Stadium.

“I don't quite have the words to do it justice,” she said.

“When Jared (Maxwell) rang me last night with the news, I nearly broke down.

“I like to think I'm generally a fairly articulate person but I just didn't have the words for it.

“I guess there's a sense of relief after all the years of working so hard and just great personal fulfilment.”

While Sharpe has officiated under the two-referee system previously, the appointments will represent the first time female match officials have operated under the single referee system.

Sharpe, who made history in 2019 when she became the first woman to referee a professional first-grade NRL match said the appointment has instilled her trust in the development of the referring system.

“This is what you all aim for is, is to get to this point in your career,” Sharpe said on Tuesday.

“I think the most important thing is that Kasey and I have been on the same pathway as every other official.

“I guess we were trusting in that pathway and that process to know that it would lead us to the same point, as it has led every other official.

"The bottom line is if you're good enough to get there, you will get there and I guess the proof is in the pudding with the appointment this weekend.”