Kasey Badger is poised to make history as the first female to oversee a top-tier men’s Test under the one-referee model.
The officiating appointments have been made for the second round of matches for the Rugby League World Cup and Badger will control the clash between Tonga and Wales at Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens.
“I’m absolutely thrilled for Kasey,” said the NRL’s head of football, Graham Annesley.
“She has worked extremely hard over the past few seasons and overcome injury to reach this historic milestone. Hopefully it’s the forerunner of many more honours to come her way.”
Proud husband Gavin Badger, himself a former whistleblower who oversaw 306 first-grade games, has booked a plane ticket to England to be able to witness the historic moment.
“I see all the hard work she’s done, all the effort she has put in to try to achieve some goals,” Gavin Badger said.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic. It’s amazing, but not something she expected for this World Cup. I know she can handle it on her ear, she should have handled an NRL game by now, it’s such a great achievement for her.
In charge: Referee Kasey Badger will make history at the Rugby League World Cup.Credit:NRL Photos
“I’m really proud of everything she does. She has to battle not only the refereeing stuff, but being a female in a male-dominated [industry]. Some of the stuff she had to put up with – not so much at the level she is at now but coming through – was quite remarkable.
“She has always backed her own ability and known she is good enough to do it.
“She’s worked hard and done the right things, but you get to points in time when different things happen and you know it probably should have been your opportunity. However, for whatever reason, someone makes a decision and it’s not and you start to think ‘Am I wasting my time? Am I good enough?’
“But her resolve and resilience has never wavered. She’s always done her best and hoped to get what she deserves at some stage.”
Compatriot Belinda Sharpe, part of the officiating squad for the RLWC, became the first woman to control an NRL game when she officiated alongside Ben Cummins in round 18 of 2019 under the two-referee model. However, no female has ever controlled a major men’s international as a sole referee.
“I love the NRLW, it’s ever evolving and it’s awesome, but those girls aren’t full-time. Whereas Kasey and Belinda are females in the game who are full-time professional athletes,” Gavin Badger said.
“There’s not too many other sports in this country where you can be a full-time professional athlete as a female.
“It’s something younger girls can look at and see it as an opportunity for them to do this. There was a big resurgence when Belinda debuted in the middle and Kasey also got a full-time contract.
“You can’t be what you can’t see. Now there’s a 15 per cent increase in female referees over the last five years.
“I 100 per cent put that down to people seeing what Kasey and Belinda do and they want to be a part of that as well.”
The Herald has reached out to Kasey for comment but due to time differences, has been unable to make contact as yet.
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