Monday Buzz: NRL boys club a disgrace for snubbing two talented referees

THE refereeing ranks have become a boys club keeping back impressive whistleblowers Kasey Badger and Belinda Sleeman, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

Referees Belinda Sleeman and Kasey Badger deserve their chance in the NRL.

SOMETIMES you wonder if the NRL is a serious equal opportunity employer. And is the Women In League round just a token recognition for females across the game?

Read on and you’ll get what I’m talking about.

On Sunday night the New Zealand Warriors played the Wests ­Tigers in a game that had no bearing on the finals.

The low-pressure match was a perfect opportunity for the NRL to give a rookie referee an initiation to first grade and the same sort of game used every year to trial a new rule or promote a new whistleblower away from the spotlight.

There are two outstanding female referees who have been banging on the door for promotion to the senior ranks all year Belinda Sleeman and Kasey Badger.

They have had great seasons as Holden Cup referees and NRL touch judges.

Yet referees boss Tony Archer refuses to pick them.

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Belinda Sleeman and Kasey Badger have had great seasons as Holden Cup referees and NRL touch judges.

Instead, he gave other referees two NRL games this weekend from a squad that has performed poorly throughout the season.

Adam Gee refereed in Townsville on Thursday night then got another start at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday night.

Gerard Sutton also refereed in Townsville on Thursday night then 48 hours later was at Brookvale as standby referee for the Sea Eagles game against the Panthers.

It is obvious to all that the refereeing ranks have become a boys club.

I recently spoke to the NRL’s best referee of all time, Bill Harrigan, about Badger.

“Give her a bloody go,” he said.

“I like her and think she’s ready.

“I’m deadset against tokenism and I’d never appoint a referee just because she’s a woman. But the whole squad knows that she has earnt it.”

Belinda Sleeman and Kasey Badger deserve their chance in the NRL Zane, Dylan anxiously waiting .

This has been the NRL’s worst year for refereeing and the game is crying out for new blood.

So last week I sent a text message to NRL chief executive Todd “politician” Greenberg.

“I thought the NRL was an equal opportunity employer,’’ I texted.

“The fact K Badger and B Sleeman can’t get an NRL game these last two weeks is a friggen disgrace.

“Your mate Tony Archer is giving referees two games this weekend to deny these great women an opportunity. Can’t believe you don’t step in and fix the refereeing department.”

The politician didn’t reply. It shows he either doesn’t care or it’s not a priority.

These days you only get a quote from the Todd when he has something to spin.

If it was the Women In League round, the politician would be out and about posing for the cameras at every opportunity to get his mug in the news­papers or on TV.

This is not just another Buzz whinge about NRL management. I’d rather be writing about next weekend’s finals. But the role of women in rugby league is a big issue.

We will keep the blowtorch on Greenberg and Archer until these women get a fair go.