NRL 2020: Round 3 referees revealed; Gavin Badger sidelined

The NRL’s controversial decision to switch back to a one-referee policy has landed its first major casualty, with one of the game’s most experienced whistleblowers relegated to the sideline.

Veteran ref Gavin Badger (second from left) will run the touchline. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

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Gavin Badger has become the highest profile casualty of the move back to one NRL referee, with the respected whistleblower missing out on a place in the middle for rugby league’s hyped return.

The NRL announced its match officials for Round 3 on Thursday afternoon, with the most notable omissions being Badger and Belinda Sharpe, who became the competition’s first female referee last July.

Despite their high profile, an NRL spokesperson pointed out that neither had officiated as the lead referee in a game last year.

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Veteran ref Gavin Badger (second from left) will run the touchline. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

Instead, both had been pocket referees, who under the new system in place for the 2020 season will revert to the role of touch judge.

As a result, Badger, who has refereed over 300 NRL games, has been named as a touchie for the match between Melbourne and Canberra at AAMI Park on Saturday night.

Sharpe, meanwhile, while run a line in the Thursday Night Football showdown between Parramatta and Brisbane at Bankwest Stadium. She has also been named as the stand-by referee for the Storm versus Raiders clash.

Belinda Sharpe made history last season. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

While no strangers to pressure, the NRL referees are set to be thrust under the spotlight this weekend when they not only take to the field solo, but also start enforcing the new ‘six again’ rule introduced by ARLC chairman Peter V’landys.

First out is Gerard Sutton, who will control the Eels versus Broncos game.

The other seven referees are Ben Cummins, Matt Cecchin, Henry Perenara, Ashley Klein, Chris Sutton, Adam Gee and Grant Atkins.

V’landys insists the shift from two referees, coupled with the new ruck rule, will not only make the game more entertaining, but help to eradicate the ugly wrestling tactics that have been a blight on the game in recent years.

The NRL has only confirmed the changes in the past week, after the referees’ union dropped its threat of industrial action at the pocket official being scrapped.

Under the agreement between both parties, 22 full-time referees will be employed until the end of 2021, with the one-referee system to be trialled and then reviewed at the end of this year.

Originally published as NRL 2020: Round 3 referees revealed; Gavin Badger sidelined