Referee “pioneers” Belinda Sharpe and Kasey Badger have been appointed as the first women to referee in the men’s NRL under the single referee system.

Both have been named to officiate matches this weekend in the final round of the NRL competition. Sharpe will referee in the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Wests Tigers match on Friday, and Badger will referee in the Gold Coast Titans v Bulldogs match on Sunday. All four teams are out of finals contention.

The NRL general manager of elite football, Graham Annesley, said Sharpe and Badger deserved to make history together.

“As pioneers, they have had to deal with added pressure through their careers,” he said.

“But they progressed through the refereeing pathways diligently, and patiently waited for the opportunity.”

Sharpe has refereed eight matches under the two-referee system, which was in place between 2009 and 2020. She has also been a touch judge in 195 NRL games, has refereed women’s State of Origin, and was in charge of the men’s World Cup match between England and Greece in 2022.

Badger has been touch judge in 161 NRL matches, and has officiated as a video review official in 43 matches. She has refereed the NRL Women’s grand final three times, and took the whistle for the men’s World Cup match between Tonga and Wales in 2022.

The NRL general manager of elite officiating, Jared Maxwell, said the success of the pair would help attract more women referees.

“The influence of Kasey and Belinda has inspired young girls to take up refereeing,” he said. “Many more will be inspired again when they see them refereeing this weekend.”