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NRL cops a barrage over female referee appointments for final round

The NRL has made a landmark decision for round 27 of action, but the move has been badly criticised by many league followers.

Kasey Badger (right) and Belinda Sharpe will referee NRL matches this weekend. Photo: John Feder/The Daily Telegraph
Kasey Badger (right) and Belinda Sharpe will referee NRL matches this weekend. Photo: John Feder/The Daily Telegraph

They should be momentous appointments, but the timing has led many to question whether it is only a token gesture.

Plenty of others are stating it has come far too late.

We are talking about female referees in the NRL, with Belinda Sharpe and Kasey Badger named to officiate games this weekend.

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It is the first time women will lead matches under the single-referee system and it has taken a heck of a long time to finally reach this point.

As far back as 2016, there were calls for female referees to get an opportunity for an NRL match.

Both Badger and Sharpe have been touch judges for well over 100 matches and refereed at international level, so it’s been a long apprenticeship.

Kasey Badger (right) and Belinda Sharpe will referee NRL matches this weekend. Photo: John Feder/The Daily Telegraph.
Kasey Badger (right) and Belinda Sharpe will referee NRL matches this weekend. Photo: John Feder/The Daily Telegraph.

Sharpe has been in charge for Rugby League World Cup matches and Badger has been trusted as an NRL Bunker review official.

So which games will they finally take charge of this weekend, you may ask?

Sharpe will hold the whistle for Manly vs Wests Tigers on Friday night, before Badger gets her chance for Gold Coast against the Bulldogs.

That’s right, teams occupying 12th, 13th, 15th and 17th. In round 27.

Way to trust them with meaningful games.

NRL commentator Andrew Voss made his feelings clear on SEN radio this week.

“We’ve got history this weekend,” he began. “Finally, some would say.

“I am a bit mixed about it. The fact that we have got through to round 27.

“Can I go dangerous ground here? I think there’d be a perception, and I don’t want to take away from their achievement because I admire Belinda and Kasey for what they’ve done, but they are thrown into round 27.

“They are thrown into games that don’t have finals consequences.

“Then doesn’t it look like you are saying ‘well, you’re good enough to referee first grade, but you’re not really good enough to be given the responsibility of the rest of the referees crew’. Could you see that?

“It feels, I don’t want to say it’s a token call. But we’ve waited till the last round and two matches.

“Have we actually made positive strides here or are we just doing this to tick to say right, it’s done?”

Sharpe did make an earlier breakthrough by refereeing an NRL game in 2019 alongside Ben Cummins.

She managed that feat eight times in total before the two-referee system was scrapped in 2020 and has been waiting patiently ever since.

Belinda Sharpe in action during last year’s Women's State of Origin series in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Belinda Sharpe in action during last year’s Women's State of Origin series in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“Kasey and Belinda are professionals and have shown dedication and discipline in their development,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said, in a massive understatement.

“This is an historic moment for them and for the game.”

There was a huge outpouring of congratulations on social media, including from the Sea Eagles’ official page.

But the timing and the relative lack of importance of the matches didn’t escape the views of many.

“If they are NRL quality, why only R27 for two lesser games?” asked Ian Chant on X, formerly Twitter.

“How about they get given games that matter during the season,” wrote another calling themselves Mixk87.

“And not just throw away games that won’t impact the table at the end.”

Steve, who has the handle @AttungaRacing, wrote: “How come you give these two outstanding ladies a history making debut in the last round of the year. C’mon man, they deserve better.”

One other, B Andrews, wrote: “If Sharpe is ready, why didn’t she referee last week? It was only one week ago!”

That user also used the hashtag #tokenism.

We suppose the proof will be in where Sharpe and Badger go from here, including if and where they feature in the upcoming finals series.

Of course, referees are always a huge focus in professional sports.

Among all the pros and cons about the appointments, X user Chris534Liv wrote simply: “Couldn’t do any worse than what’s there now.”

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-cops-a-barrage-over-female-referee-appointments-for-final-round/news-story/4eddf3f41d55b2cfbc373127b0aa1303