Belinda Sharpe earns the highest praise that can be bestowed on a referee

Female referee Belinda Sharpe made history on Thursday night — and as the first woman to ever referee in the NRL it went exactly to plan with her performance being unnoticed.

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Bravo, Belinda.

Female referee Belinda Sharpe was issued a resounding pass mark for her history-making performance adjudicating Thursday night’s NRL match between Brisbane and Canterbury at Suncorp Stadium.

Sharpe became the first female referee to control a first grade match in 111-years of NRL in Australia — and she was given high praise.

The trailblazing Sharpe was pocket referee alongside experienced grand final and State of Origin ref, Ben Cummins. She was in control of the game for about 20 minutes.

Referee Belinda Sharpe awards a try to the Bulldogs. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Sharpe, 31, looked busy and controlled despite expected pre-game nerves. She was unnoticed, there were no controversies and the game flowed.

She was respectful to the players and they showed considerable respect for her.

It was certainly different hearing a female voice instructing players around the play the ball. There appears little doubt she will retain her place in the NRL for next weekend’s round 19.

Late last night, NRL head of football, Graham Annesley, himself a former leading referee, said: “Everyone associated with rugby league should feel very proud of Belinda.

“Her first game in the NRL will be something she will remember for the rest of her life and she couldn’t have performed any better.

“I’m sure Belinda is going to be a regular in the NRL for many years to come.”

Sharpe’s first-up effort also praise draw from Immortal Andree Johns on Channel Nine.

It was difficult to ascertain whether Sharpe attracted any gender-based crowd comments but most at Suncorp Stadium appeared to support and back her.

Some senior coaches felt Sharpe would succeed last night on debut but expect her biggest challenge to arrive over coming weeks and months under the weekly and relentless pressure of refereeing at NRL level.

Former champion referee Bill Harrigan spoke to The Daily Telegraph about Sharpe before Thursday night’s match.

Belinda Sharpe, refereeing her first game of NRL. Picture: AAP/Photo Steve Pohlner

“It was a good appointment. She has worked hard and deserved her chance,” Harrigan said.

NRL legend Darren Lockyer added: “It was a historic night for Belinda, the game and her family. It was great to see.”

Sharpe has been an NRL touch judge since 2014 and was awarded a fulltime refereeing contract in May along with fellow female referee, Kasey Badger.

Asked earlier this week whether she was expected vitriol from fans, Sharpe said: “I know people will have their opinions about me being out on the field but I can’t let any of that affect me.”

“I’ve had the same setbacks and triumphs and worked just as hard as everybody else.”

Eleni Glouftsis became the AFL’s first female umpire back in 2017.