The disrespect displayed to Kasey Badger while she refereed Saturday’s Wests Tigers vs Canterbury Bulldogs game is unfortunately nothing new.
Nor is the reaction from the dark parts of the internet, which emerge from beneath rocks whenever a female sporting official makes a mistake.
Badger made a couple mistakes at Accor Stadium and deserves the scrutiny and criticism that comes with the position.
She does not deserve to have players utilize their physical presence to get in her face or loom over her. No referee deserves this treatment.
But any player who thinks they can succeed with this technique is in for a harsh awakening: Badger is tough as nails.
You must be, regardless of gender, to be an NRL referee. physically fit and mentally powerful.
Sit near the sidelines of any NRL game and listen to the abuse that match officials receive from players and fans; it’s shocking how much vitriol is tossed their way by dickheads who believe they know better.
You’re wasting your time with those loudmouths, whether they’re a well-known hothead like Tigers player David Klemmer, nasty supporters in the seats, or “courageous” users on social media who spew hate from the comfort of their online pseudonym.
Badger has endured so many slings and arrows throughout her career that she has developed a thick skin, making her impenetrable to criticism.
And she has overcome setback after setback to fulfill her dream of becoming an NRL referee.
Whistleblowers are put through a rigorous testing procedure to ensure that they are fit enough to keep up with the game while still having a thorough understanding of the various nuances of the rulebook, allowing them to make the correct call even when fatigued.
Badger was so determined to reach the top that she underwent surgery six years ago to have part of a rib removed due to chronic pain in her right arm.
She’s also played through a persistent ankle injury and missed time in the 2020 season due to a bulging disc in her back.
After refereeing in the men’s World Cup event in 2022, she made her NRL debut last season and is back on the senior squad this year.
Every referee makes mistakes during every game they officiate. Just like every player and coach.
They all have a high tolerance for the abuse they get, but just because they are resilient does not mean that cowards can freely abuse them.
Badger erred by not ejecting Aiden Sezer for his horrific hip drop tackle on Josh Curran. At the very least, it should have resulted in a sin bin, and the fact that he is now suspended for the next four games demonstrates how terrible it was and how catastrophic the damage may have been to his opponent’s leg.
But she wasn’t alone in making that decision. It was an official issue, an error that unfortunately occurs much too frequently in the NRL.
